NEW YORK: United Nations deputy-Secretary General Jan Eliasson on Thursday said Bangladesh is now a model member of the United Nations as it has been progressing in all sectors including democracy.
The UN deputy-Secretary General Jan Eliasson was addressing a reception on the occasion of the 45th Independence and National Day. He inaugurated the reception by cutting a cake
Dr AK Abdul Momen, Permanent Representative at the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations Mission, and his wife Selina Momen arranged the function in the evening.
Congratulating all on the occasion of Independence Day of Bangladesh, the UN deputy secretary general, in a brief response, said, “Bangladesh is advancing fast socially and economically. The South Asian country is now a model member of the United Nations as it is progressing in all sectors including democracy.”
Earlier in the day, the celebration of the 45th Independence and National Day at the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations commenced with hoisting the national flag and concluded through arranging different programs and hosting a reception.
AK Abdul Momen inaugurated the celebration program where all officers and employees of the Permanent Mission were present.
The messages of President M Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and state Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam were read out at the program.
Video featuring Bangladesh’s independence, liberation war and rebuilt of the war-ravaged Bangladesh under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country's advancement on way to building a prosperous Bangladesh with the efforts taken by incumbent government was screened at the program.
The video portrayed that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman formally declared the independence of Bangladesh at the early hours of March 26, 1971. That night the declaration was spread all over the country through telegram, teleprinter and wireless.
In his introductory speech at the reception, Dr Momen said Bangladesh is following the policy of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman that pursued friendship with everyone, malice with none. Bangladesh is now an active member of the United Nations. The country contributes the highest number of total personnel to United Nations peacekeeping missions, he added.
He said that Bangladesh's economy is progressing rapidly under the dynamic leadership of PM Sheikh Hasina. In the last six years, the country has achieved 6.2 percent economic growth on an average.
Bangladesh is now the world's second largest readymade garments exporter, Dr Momen added.
The Permanent Representative also said, “Alongside economic development, other social sectors of the country have also been improved. Income inequality has been decreased. The poverty rate dropped to 59 percent from 4 percent of 1991. By 2019, the country will free from extreme poverty.”
“Bangladesh has now turned into a rice exporter country. Child and maternal mortality rate has been drastically reduced. Millennium development goals have been achieved,” he added.
The Permanent Representative said, “Bangladesh is advancing fast to turn into a middle-income country by 2021 and build a developed and prosperous country by 2041 through implementation of the Vision 2021.
He said that to achieve the goals, Bangladesh is coping with different challenges including climate change, infrastructure and human resource development, technology transfer.
Citing the people of Bangladesh, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has engaged in building Sonar Bangla, Dr AK Abdul Momen hoped that Bangladesh will be successful in achieving theses goals through a strong partnership with the UN and the world community.
Permanent Representatives of the different countries, diplomats and UN officials, leaders of the Awami League units of the United States and New York, and leaders its associate organizations, local leaders of the 14-party alliance, media representatives, members of local Bengali community and social and cultural organizations attended the reception.
BDST: 1500 HRS, MAR 27, 2015
