Settle disputes through dialogue, say 'no' to wars: PM Hasina at UNESCAP meet

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called for speaking out against all forms of aggression, atrocities and wars.

"We must speak out against all forms of aggression and atrocities, and say 'no' to wars," she said while addressing the 80th Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Unescap) held at the UN conference centre in Bangkok, Thailand on Thursday (25 April).

Sheikh Hasina arrived in Bangkok on 24 April on a six-day official visit to Thailand.

Stating that Bangladesh supports the UN secretary general's "New Agenda for Peace", the prime minister said the precondition for sustainable development is lasting peace and security.

"We must settle regional disputes and tension through dialogue. Our mutual respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity must remain paramount," she said.

Sheikh Hasina called upon the Asia-Pacific region, especially Asean, to redouble their efforts to end the Rohingya crisis as all efforts at regional connectivity, integration, and prosperity will continue to be marked by a missing puzzle without it.

"The origin of their crisis has been in Myanmar, and its solution also lies in Myanmar," she categorically said.

"As long as that solution remains out of reach, all our efforts at regional connectivity, integration, and prosperity will continue to be marked by a missing puzzle. Let us redouble our efforts to put that puzzle back in place," Sheikh Hasina said.

She said when thousands of Rohingya men, women, and children from Myanmar fled to Bangladesh in August 2017, Bangladesh offered them temporary shelter.

"With an ever-growing population, this has now become one of the largest humanitarian situations in the world," the premier said.

Sheikh Hasina said in the backdrop of ongoing armed conflicts in Myanmar, the Rohingya repatriation process is also getting delayed.

"This is creating serious security risks within and beyond our territories," she said, calling upon the Asia-Pacific region, especially Asean, to play a proactive role in resolving the volatile situation in Myanmar.

"We must ensure that the Rohingya can go back home in safety and dignity at the earliest possible," she said.

The prime minister said the Asia-Pacific region must stand united against its common enemies of poverty and hunger.

She said Bangladesh has reduced poverty from 41.51% to 18.7% between 2006 and 2022. It also reduced extreme poverty from 25.1% to 5.6% during the same period.

"We remain confident about eradicating extreme poverty by 2030," she said, mentioning that Bangladesh has made notable progress on food security, with focused interventions on maternal and child nutrition.

"Our current priority is to address inequalities through income distribution, asset ownership, and social protection," she said.

The PM said the Asia-Pacific region must put up a united front in tackling the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and transboundary pollution.

"We need to push for ambitious climate financing goals beyond 2025 at COP-29. We need to cooperate on cross-border water management and air quality improvement. We must all prepare for growing extreme weather events," she said.

In this connection, she suggested looking into Bangladesh's experience in disaster risk reduction. "We appreciate Unescap's support in improving our early warning capabilities," she added.

Briefly describing various development programmes and achievements of her government, Sheikh Hasina said much of the development gains are affected by climate impacts.

"As a low-lying delta, Bangladesh has no option but to invest heavily in climate resilience," she said, adding that Bangladesh is already recognised as a global leader in climate adaptation.

"We are happy to share our traditional and innovative solutions with other vulnerable countries," she said.

The prime minister said Bangladesh has urged developed and emerging economies in the region to raise their time-bound emission reduction targets.

"For economies in transition, it is important to have a just energy transition."

In Bangladesh, she said, "We are working on long-term energy security with a sound mix of clean and renewable energy. We shall continue to do our part in pursuing a circular and low-carbon economic growth pathway."

Sheikh Hasina underscored the need for increased and easy access to financing and technology from both the public and private sectors.

"I invite Unescap to help build the capacity of climate-vulnerable countries to mobilise adequate international climate financing," she said.

PM Hasina said Bangladesh now provides critical links to the Trans-Asian Highway and Railway networks. "Our physical and digital infrastructures are being developed to foster regional trade and connectivity," she said.

"Bangladesh offers access to the Bay of Bengal for land-locked territories in its neighbourhood. We stand ready to work together with all regional partners through mutual understanding and cooperation," said the prime minister.