Urges world leaders up root militancy
by Saleem Samad : from United Nations: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her address at the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday decried the rise of terrorism and urged the world community to unite to uproot militancy and terrorism, and plug the sources of funds, arms and ammunition as well as moral and material support to militants and terrorists across the borders.
She made the call at the 71st UNGA, and recalled that she was a victim of terrorist attacks herself, she has a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to terrorism and violent extremism.
“Terrorists have no religion, caste or creed. We must unite in our resolve to defeat and degrade them in all forms and manifestations. We have to identify the root causes of terrorism and violent extremism,” she said.
In her 20 minutes speech in Bangla, her government did succeed in disintegrating the home-grown terrorist groups, plugging their regular financing pipelines, and flushing out the regional operatives from its territory. But with the vicious rise of certain international terrorist entities, it appears some of the local fringe elements have drawn inspiration and managed to regroup and rebrand themselves, she added.
Recalling that a little more than two months ago, home-grown terrorists killed 20 people at a Dhaka restaurant, she said: “we are now in battle with this new wave of terrorism,” undertaking massive programs to awaken people against radicalization and stand against militancy and extremism.
“Bangladesh, a unique country of religious harmony, experienced a grisly attack on July 1 when homegrown terrorists killed 20 people at a Dhaka restaurant. The horrific incident imprinted a deep scar on the hearts of Bangladeshi people. We're now in a battle with this new wave of terrorism. We've undertaken massive program to awaken people against radicalization and stand against militancy and extremism,” she said.
She mentioned that she had called for assistance from society and received unprecedented response. “Our women, youths, families and communities can be our vanguards in offsetting extremism and radicalization. I'm confident, with our people's resilience and support, we'll make sure terrorists will have no place on our soil.”
Sheikh Hasina also reminded all that she highlighted the issues of terrorism and violent extremism last year as one of the two major global challenges of the time. “We see these menaces sweeping across borders. No country seems immune… no individual is beyond their target. The terrorists are killing now and often many innocent people everywhere from the USA to Europe, Africa to Asia,” she said.
Bangladesh will carry on promoting a culture of peace at the heart of the UN’s agenda and it will support global peacekeeping and peace building efforts. Its decision to set up a Peace Building Center in Dhaka will allow her country to share its experience with other countries emerging from conflicts, she said.
Her speech also dwelt on the issues of refugee crisis, migration, women empowerment, climate change and the challenges of global community are facing now.
Prime Minister said that her country has already mainstreamed most Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its national development plans.
In Bangladesh, she said, the government has already mainstreamed most SDGs into the national development plans. A platform under the supervision of the Prime Minister has been created to coordinate and monitor the work. Consultations are ongoing with the local governments, civil society, media and academia.
“These are in tandem with our ‘Vision-2021’ and ‘Vision-2041,’ towards realizing the dream of the Father of the nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, to build a hunger-, poverty-, illiteracy- and exploitation-free ‘Sonar Bangladesh’ – the Golden Bangladesh,” Sheikh Hasina said during the Assembly’s annual general debate.
The political will behind the 2030 Agenda needs to be translated into concrete and meaningful support for countries that are lagging behind, she insisted. In order to catch up, the developing world needs access to transformative technologies. The internationally agreed development commitments for the least developed countries (LDCs) must be fulfilled to pave the way for their graduation.
But, Sheikh Hasina said, the climate change threatens many of the country's development gains. She said the landmark Paris Climate Agreement recognises the importance of adaptation, loss and damage, and climate justice.
The UN-backed Technology Bank for LDCs should be geared at promoting innovation and predictable resource flow, she said, noting that her country’s aim is to build an inclusive, empowered, digital and knowledge-based society.
Noting that the world is now at a juncture, Hasina said all have the end of these scourges in sight. “There're many creative and practical solutions in our hands. The amazing power of technology, ideas and global citizens make us imagine a ‘brave new world'.”
Talking about some challenges in the globalised world, she said there are also potential opportunities and benefits for all, only if all know how to manage it right. “We're all gathered here to serve our ‘One Humanity'.”
She said the UN provides a unique platform to do so. “Let's renew our resolve to create an organisation of enduring relevance.”
She said Bangladesh shall remain vocal about recognising the role of national judicial processes in ensuring accountability and justice for mass atrocities. “We have moved past decades of impunity to ensure the trial of the local perpetrators of genocide and crimes against humanity during our Liberation War in 1971.”
– New York 21 September, 2016
