Observing that terrorism and violent extremism remain as two major impediments to global peace and development, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday called for a unity of all the countries to effectively address the threats.
“Terrorists do not have any religion. Terrorism and violent extremism are global challenges. All the countries should be united to effectively address these,” she said.
Hasina was delivering her speech at the general debate of the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York. Like the previous years, she delivered it in Bangla.
“I urge the comity of nations to renew our collective resolve to achieve a peaceful, stable and prosperous world free from poverty and inequality, violence and extremism, climate change and conflict, and oppression and injustice,” she told her audience.
The prime minister also noted that it would not be possible to sustain the development endeavours if climate change cannot be effectively dealt with. “The new development agenda makes it clear that all our actions need to be underpinned by our strong commitment to protect and preserve our planet, our biodiversity and our climate. We have only a small window of opportunity, and we must succeed to set the world on a safer, greener and more prosperous path,” she said.
Hasina said this is a critical year for sustainable development. The Financing for Development Summit in Addis and the just concluded UN Development Summit here have ushered in a new hope for people around the world. “With our drive to arrive at a meaningful climate change agreement in Paris this year, we hope to transform our future by ending poverty, limiting climate change and preserving our planet.”
‘No to snap polls’
Earlier on Tuesday, Hasina again ruled out the possibility of holding a mid-term election before the one stipulated for 2019 as per the constitution.
Addressing a press conference at the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the UN, the ruling Awami League president said that those who believed in militancy and terrorism might demand general election before the schedule.
They do not want progress and development of the country, the premier said rejecting BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s demand for snap polls next year, reports BSS.
“Development will reach a momentum as long as the Awami League remains in power,” she said.
Hasina firmly said that the next election would be held as per the schedule and according to the constitution, and no one should be worried about it.
She said that BNP and Jamaat were political parties, but they acted like militant and terrorist organisations.
Terming her visit to New York successful, Hasina said that the UNGA had adopted the crucial Post-2015 agenda, a very “pro-people” goal for sustainable development of the nations, particularly the poor ones.
Acknowledging the risk of international terrorism and militancy in Bangladesh, the prime minister said that people who had plunged the country into politics of killing and coup had connection with international terrorism.
‘No IS link’
On the recent murder of an Italian citizen in Dhaka, Hasina said that the government was trying to find out the culprits of the heinous murder. “A BNP leader who is delivering misguiding statements on the sad murder will be interrogated,” she warned.
“Some stray incidents always happen not only in Bangladesh but everywhere in the world.” Even in the New York City, she said, two Awami League leaders had been killed in broad daylight.
Refuting the link of Islamic State with the murder, the premier said: “A message from Chicago claimed the link of IS with the killing. But no one from Bangladesh claimed it so far. Our intelligence has no such information.”
She, however, observed that there must be a strong force behind the killing. “They want to create a situation. Terrorism and militancy are not only happening in Bangladesh, it is a global phenomenon.”
Hasina said: “Bangladesh believes in peace and certainly not in militancy. We do not want the emergence of militants in Bangladesh. We are really very sad for the murder of a foreign national. It is a pathetic incident.”
The prime minister also expressed surprise as some diplomatic missions in Dhaka issued security alert for their nationals after the murder of Italian citizen Cesare Tavella.
“There is no justification of issuing red alerts. We saw no such red alert when Nazmul was killed in New York.
“The US government did not announce a red alert when two Bangladesh nationals were killed in New York few years ago. Other diplomatic missions also did not issue any such alert to their citizens. I do not know why diplomatic missions in Dhaka did this.
“I saw suspicious activities of a BNP leader after the murder. I think the clue of the murder can be be revealed if the BNP leader is interrogated. I will take the measure after returning home,” she said.
Meanwhile, Awami League Presidium Member Mohammed Nasim yesterday said in Dhaka that there would be no polls before 2019.
