Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sought separate financial assistance for Most Vulnerable Countries (MVCs) like Bangladesh for enabling them to cope with the threats stemming from climate change and calamitous weather conditions.
She made the demand while addressing the executive and retreat sessions of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2009 at the National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) in this capital city of Caribbean island country Trinidad and Tobago Friday afternoon.
Hasina, who happens to be the only female head of government attending the Commonwealth meeting, attended the executive and retreat sessions after the opening ceremony of the CHOGM.
In the sessions, she reminded the world leaders about the disastrous impacts of the global warming on Bangladesh for no fault of its own.
“Our contribution to the greenhouse-gas emission is negligible, but the fact is that we are the worst sufferer of the global warming,” the prime minister said.
She categorically said all financial assistance to be provided to the MVCs must be distinct from the ODA (Official Development Assistance) handed out to all of the poorer countries.
Hasina explained to the global leaders how climate change casts serious negative impacts on food production. She said universal food security would be difficult to achieve unless the people and economy are safeguarded from the climate risks.
“Climate change is affecting agriculture, food production and thus affecting the initiatives for attaining the food security,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina pointed out that Bangladesh and other developing and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) need financial assistance from the international community, particularly from the developed countries, for tackling the challenges emerging from the global warming.
She further laid emphasis on mitigation process for safeguarding the existence of the globe from disastrous consequences of excessive carbon emissions.
In this context, the PM called for transfer of environment-friendly technology to the developing and least developed countries from the developed nations in order to protect the environment and climate of these countries from pollution and warming.
She also made a strong plea for taking special care of women and children in facing the climate-change challenges as she said these members of the global community are the worst sufferers of the changing climate.
Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad briefed newsmen after the meeting.
Earlier in the day, Sheikh Hasina attended the opening ceremony of the CHOGM 2009 with other heads of state and government and official representatives attending the three-day Commonwealth meet from its 53 member-countries.
On her arrival at the CHOGM venue at 9:45 am, Sheikh Hasina was received by the Prime Minister of Trinidad Patric Manning.
Sheikh Hasina, with the world leaders, including Queen Elizabeth II, also took part in the official photo session as part of the opening ceremonies of the CHOGM.
She then attended a joint reception hosted by the host Premier and Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma.
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, Ambassador-at-Large M Ziauddin, Bangladesh High Commissioner to the United Kingdom M Sayeedur Rahman Khan and Sheikh Hasina’s niece Tulip Siddique were present at the summit during the opening ceremony
Categories: Bangla, Bangladesh, Bangladesh Economy, Bangladesh News, Daily Bangladesh News, Economy, News
