UN chief congratulates PM, praises his vision for peace and public welfare: Mahdi Amin

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres congratulated Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on forming the government following a free, fair and acceptable election, Prime Minister’s Adviser and Office spokesperson Mahdi Amin said on Thursday.

Guterres also praised Bangladesh for its contributions to multilateral diplomacy and global peace, Amin said.

The UN chief conveyed the message at the start of his “highly productive” meeting with Tarique Rahman on the third day of the prime minister’s visit to New York. Amin disclosed the details at a press briefing at the UN headquarters.

During the meeting, Tarique Rahman spoke about the significance of representing Bangladesh at the United Nations as the head of a democratically elected government after a long gap. He also shared his emotions about addressing the historic institution where his father, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, and mother, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, had previously represented Bangladesh.

The meeting also covered Bangladesh’s planned graduation from the least developed country (LDC) category. Tarique Rahman urged Guterres to consider extending the graduation timeline, citing the challenges confronting the global economy.

According to Amin, Guterres expressed his gratitude to Bangladesh for its role in advancing multilateral diplomacy, supporting global peace and fostering goodwill and harmony among nations.

PM presents vision at UN

Amin described Tarique Rahman’s address to the 81st UN General Assembly as “historic” and “epoch-making”, saying it laid out a vision for global peace, protection of Palestinian rights and a stronger UN role in restoring peace, prosperity and unity.

He said the prime minister also presented a roadmap for building a prosperous, self-reliant and welfare-oriented Bangladesh, with democracy, human rights and the rule of law at its core.

Tarique Rahman outlined initiatives aimed at empowering women, children and young people, including Family Cards, Farmer Cards and e-Health Cards, with Universal Cards planned for the future. He also highlighted government plans covering healthcare, education, agriculture, employment, technology and environmental protection.

Amin said the speech was well received by those present and reflected the aspirations of people committed to democracy, human rights and inclusive development.

Seven programmes on third day

Tarique Rahman participated in seven programmes on the third day of his New York visit, including bilateral, multilateral and high-level engagements, Amin said.

The prime minister held bilateral meetings with the prime ministers of Pakistan and Thailand, where they discussed regional cooperation, relations based on equality, fairness and dignity, and stronger people-to-people connections.

He also attended high-level conferences on environmental issues and midwifery and healthcare, where Bangladesh presented its positions and future plans.

At the environmental conference, Tarique Rahman outlined plans to plant 250 million trees over the next five years, excavate more than 20,000 kilometres of canals, and implement the Padma Barrage and Teesta master plans.

He also put forward four proposals aimed at keeping the rise in global temperatures within 1.5 degrees Celsius.

At the health conference, the prime minister outlined plans to reduce maternal and child mortality by expanding healthcare services to grassroots communities.

Amin said the government plans to recruit 100,000 healthcare workers over the next few years, including 80,000 women, while creating 25,000 jobs specifically in midwifery services.

He added that the health policies and initiatives presented by Tarique Rahman drew praise from world leaders and healthcare professionals attending the conference.