Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday urged the Rotarians to continue their efforts for establishing peace closing the gap between the rich and the poor, the powerful and the powerless and the capable and the incapable.
She made the call while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the International Rotary Peace Conference 2015 at city’s Radisson Hotel.
The prime minister said Rotarians have been working for over a century with the motto of “Service beyond Self” for the development of communities and establishing peace in the world.
Hasina mentioned that the activities of Rotarians in the areas of water supply and sanitation, preventing major diseases, maternal and child health, education and literacy, and economic development are worth mentionable.
Stressing the importance of establishing peace and development in a society, she said: “We have to remember that development or peace cannot be achieved leaving a major section of society disadvantageous condition.”
Hasina said the wealthy and enlightened section of society can play an important role in establishing peace through eradicating poverty, illiteracy, and superstition.
Reiterating Bangladesh’s commitment to international peace, she mentioned that it has been manifested through the proposal of “Culture of Peace and Non-violence” adopted by the United Nations General Assembly at its 68th session.
The prime minister said Bangladesh’s commitment and contribution to global peace is further reaffirmed through its support to the UN as a top troop- and police-contributing country in its peacekeeping missions.
“Bangladesh contributed the highest number of women police to UN peacekeeping, commensurate with our credentials of empowerment of women,” she said.
Highlighting her government’s stunning success in different fields, including agriculture, health, economy and poverty alleviation, the prime minister said the poverty rate has been reduced to 24 percent from 41.5% in the last six years.
“We have set a goal of reducing the poverty rate by 10 percent more in the next four years,” she said.
Rotary International President-elect KR Ravindran was present as the special guest at the conference organized by Rotary Club Dhaka Mohanagar.
District Governor of Rotary International District 3281 Safina Rahman and District Governor of Rotary International District 3282 Engineer MA Latif spoke on the occasion, while Chairperson of the conference Aftabul Islam delivered the welcome address and President of Rotary Club Dhaka Mohanagar Niaz Rahim gave the vote of thanks.
Past District Governor MA Awal read out the Rotary Invocation.