Bangladesh News

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met US President Barack Obama and exchanged views with him on the adverse impacts of climate change on developing countries in a major event on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session.

This was the first encounter of the new Bangladesh premier with the new US president.

It took place during a meeting with the heads of state and government of 25 selected countries at the UN Conference Building over a private working dinner on Tuesday night.

UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon hosted the meeting to discuss the climate change issue, a most pressing problem currently facing nations across the globe following excessive carbon emissions from the developed world.

Foreign Minister Dipu Moni told UNB that the Prime Minister Hasina and President Obama sat beside each other and exchanged views “in a very cordial atmosphere.”

The PM, during the discourse, invited President Obama to visit Bangladesh. He accepted the invitation.

Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dr Momen said the American president did the honours like host to the Bangladesh PM.

“President Obama was so cordial that he poured water into the prime minister’s glass,” he said.

He informed that the PM put forward five-point demand for tackling the adverse effects of the climate change through effective ways of adaptation and mitigation. She also mentioned the necessity of food security.

Hasina apprised the meeting of select world leaders of various steps that Bangladesh has undertaken to face the climate change and ensure the pace of development.

“But that’s not enough,” she told the meeting.

The premier also stressed the need for financial and technological assistance from the rich nations.