Ban Ki-moon Meets Hasina, Khaleda
UN chief assures dev support
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon with representatives of the member countries of Climate Vulnerable Forum before the inaugural session of the forum's conference at Sonargaon Hotel in the city yesterday. Inset, Hasina presents Ban Ki-moon a low-cost laptop, Doel, assembled in Bangladesh, at the Prime Minister's Office in the city yesterday. Photo: PMO
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia yesterday, the first day of his three-day visit to Bangladesh. In the morning, the UN chief met Foreign Minister Dipu Moni. Ban Ki-moon and his wife Ban Soon-taek also visited institutions including Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training (BIPSOT) during their busy daylong programme. UN CHIEF MEETS PMAs he paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office yesterday, Ban Ki-moon said the United Nations is ready to provide all sorts of technical and logistic support to Bangladesh in its development endeavours, reports UNB. PM's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad told journalists that the UN chief highly praised the leadership and commitment of Sheikh Hasina for improving the lot of the people especially in empowering women and ensuring child rights. The UN secretary general invited the Bangladesh prime minister to attend the Rio+20 Earth Summit scheduled for June next year in Brazil. The first Earth Summit was held in 1992 for negotiation on climate change issues. During the meeting, Sheikh Hasina mentioned the free, fair and neutral election of 2008 when the people gave an overwhelming mandate in favour of her party. She also mentioned efforts like forming all the parliamentary standing committees in the first session of parliament by making opposition lawmakers chairman in seven such committees. Citing the barbaric grenade attack on Awami League meeting on August 21, 2004 and a series of bomb attacks on August 17, 2005, Hasina said her government has curbed militancy and terrorism with strong hand. She also informed the UN chief of the safety net programmes the government has taken for the poor and freedom fighters, reports UNB. UN BOSS CALLS ON KHALEDA
Ban Ki-moon assured Khaleda Zia that the UN would ensure necessary steps required for holding the next national election in a free and fair atmosphere and the participation of all political parties. The UN chief made the comment following concern expressed by Khaleda Zia over non-participation of many political parties in the next national election. BNP vice-president Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury briefed media about the 45-minute meeting between the UN chief and Khaleda Zia at Sonargaon Hotel starting from 6:20pm. Khaleda Zia told the UN chief that democracy is being hampered in the country and people has been striped off their rights to vote by passing the 15th amendment to the constitution. Regarding the trial of war criminals, the UN chief hoped the trial would be of international standard. Khaleda Zia also expressed concern over an international standard trial of war criminals, as foreign lawyers have not been permitted to fight the case in favour of the accused. BAN KI-MOON VISITS BIPSOT
The secretary general and his wife reached BIPSOT in Rajendrapur Cantonment around 2:00pm. During the visit, Ban laid the foundation stone for a new BIPSOT complex and wrote comment on the visitor's book. He wrote, “I highly commend the great and courageous contribution of Bangladeshi men and women for peace, security, development, and other human rights issues. I'm grateful to all those who sacrificed in the name of peace”. BSMMU VISIT
Ban Soon-taek reached Milon auditorium of BSMMU around 4:00pm to address a gathering of doctors and parents of autistic children. "These children (autistic) are differently able to perform and will play important role in changing our future. It is lack of knowledge on part of the management and school authorities that they have not learned how to deal with these children," said Ban Soon-taek. "It is necessary to recognise them as person and ensure proper facilities to these children," she added. PM's Health Adviser Prof Modasser Ali offered Ban Soontaek honorary faculty membership at BSMMU while BSMMU Vice Chancellor Prof Pran Gopal Datta mentioned that the university would remember the day as "Soon-taek day" in memory of the visit. They also sought UN help in improving the capacity of the university and ensuring standard health service to people.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments