“We’ll have to fight these menaces (terrorism and militancy) together. Militancy is not a problem of a particular country right, it’s now a global phenomenon,” she said.
The Prime Minister said, this while inaugurating the five-day 136th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad. Bangladesh Parliament is hosting the mega event.
Sheikh Hasina said the world now faces a new alarming sign as terrorism and militancy are taking the lives of innocent people, destroying the peace of human being. “Militancy is not a problem of a particular country right now, it’s a global phenomenon,” she said.
The Prime Minister said, Bangladesh always feels proud of its democratic heritage. “We never see democracy as a system as we term democracy as the carrier of human prosperity and ensuring security.”
Hasina said she thinks it is only democracy that can ensure a prosperous life for people after fulfilling the basic rights of human being.
About the hunger and malnutrition across the globe, she said the world undoubtedly is moving forward. “Though visible progress has been made in dealing with hunger, nearly 800 million people still suffer from malnutrition while many children in developing nations suffer from stunted growth. They are deprived of medicare and schooling. But, the earth is full of resources for the survival of mankind. A little sympathy, support, mutual compassion and fraternity can easily make the globe free from hunger.”
Terming the global climate change a burning issue, the Prime Minister said Bangladesh is the worst sufferer from the adverse impacts of climate change. “I hope, the commitments made at different forums for offsetting the adverse impacts to be met without delay.”
Regarding democracy in Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina said that the journey of establishing democracy in Bangladesh was never a smooth one.
She briefly described the establishment of democracy in Bangladesh and said the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had struggled throughout his life for realising people’s rights and establishing democracy.
Talking about her struggle for democracy, Hasina said she had to endure various harassments, including house arrest, imprisonment and even repeated attempts on my life. “At least 19 attempts, including that of the August 21 gruesome grenade attack in 2004, were made on my life.”
Bangladesh, the Prime Minister said, has strengthened democratic institutions, including the national parliament and local government bodies.
She also laid emphasis on independent and vibrant mass media that can work as watchdogs in a democratic system. “There has been huge expansion of mass media in Bangladesh over the last few years alongside freedom of expression. People’s right to information has also been ensured through the enactment of Right to Information Act and establishment of Information Commission.”
About the socio-economic advancement of Bangladesh, she said the country has achieved tremendous success in its journey towards prosperity.
She said, the poverty rate came down to 22.4 percent in 2016 from 31.5 in 2010. The per capita income now stands at USD 1466 while the average llife expectancy is 71.
“Bangladesh has already been recognised as a lower middle-income country. Our target is to make Bangladesh a middle-income country by 2021 and a developed and prosperous one by 2041.” Hasina said, Bangladesh has made a marked success in implementation of MDGs. “We’re moving ahead to implement SDGs capitalising the success of MDGs. The subjects of SDGs have been incorporated in our ongoing 7th fifth-five year plan.”
A total of 1,348 delegates, including 53 Speakers, deputy speakers and 209 women parliamentarians, of 120 countries are joining the assembly.
Parliamentarians, including 53 Speakers of Parliament, will make concrete proposals on a range of issues, from bringing an end to the growing inequality to promoting women’s access to financing, during the Assembly.
The Prime Minister also released a commemorative stamp and inaugurated the IPU web TV.
UN secretary general António Guterres sent a special message on the occasion.
Speaker of Bangladesh Parliament and Chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury delivered the welcome speech. IPU President Saber Hossain Chowdhury and its Secretary General Martin Chungong also spoke on then occasion.
