No scarcity of any commodity in Bangladesh during Ramadan: PM Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said today (23 February) there will be no shortage of any commodity in the market during the upcoming month of Ramadan.

"There'll be no scarcity of anything during Ramadan. All arrangements have already been made," she said in reply to a question at a press conference in her official residence Ganabhaban to inform about the outcomes of her recent visit to Germany to attend the Munich Security Conference-2024.

Talking about essential commodities during the month of fasting, Hasina said there is an arrangement to import sufficient amounts of goods like dates and sugar.

"So, there will be no problem with this," she added.

On the issue of the recent elections, Hasina said no global leader raised any concern or question about last month's general election during her recent visit to Germany.

"No one said anything about the election. They don't have any concerns and questions regarding the election," she said.

"None told me anything about the election as they knew I would come back winning it," she said.

Not naming anyone, she said there is a country where the election is called free and fair despite the fact that it takes 12-13 days to declare the poll results.

"How come? In Bangladesh, the election is not free despite its results being announced within 24 hours [of the balloting]," she said.

The prime minister went to Munich on 15 February and returned home on 19 February.

She said her participation at the Munich Security Conference last week reflected Bangladesh's strong commitment towards peace, sovereignty and overall global security.

During her stay in Munich, she also held bilateral meetings with global leaders on the sidelines of the conference.

In her written statement, Hasina described her visit as successful.

She said she told the world leaders that the strength of the policy of a country - not the size - is the way to political and socio-economic freedom.

"Besides, through the bilateral meetings with friendly countries and international organisations the continuation of the relations have become stronger and new horizons of cooperation have been unleashed," she said.

The prime minister said that while speaking at the high-level panel on 'From Pocket to Planet: Scaling Up Climate Finance' she called for an immediate end to all hostilities, illegal occupations and inhuman killings of unarmed people, especially women and children, in Gaza and the rest of the world.

"I draw everyone's attention to the fact that the adverse effects of economic sanctions and counter-sanctions are felt far beyond the battlefield," she said.

In this context, she urged everyone to make available and implement the necessary logistics and financing to address the risks of climate change by ending the senseless arms race.

"In the crisis of humanity's existence, I present this harsh reality that petty interests only bring misery. And therefore, call on the international community to take immediate measures to address the growing security risks posed by climate change."

Hasina said that she called on the world leaders to work together to seriously consider the financing needed to address the challenges of climate change.

"I place special emphasis on increasing financing for affected countries and populations, actual transfer of pledged funds, and ensuring financial and technical assistance to vulnerable countries to address the multiple security risks posed by climate change."

She called for the swift implementation of the political commitments of rich countries and for all concerned to work together based on mutual partnership and cooperation to address the global risk of climate change.

Qatar Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, during his talks, assured Qatar's continued support for a sustainable and quick solution to the Rohingya problem.

"Besides mutual trade, investment, LNG supply was discussed. We also discussed the need to work together to end Israeli violence in the Gaza Strip," she said.

Hasina said that during the meeting with World Bank's Senior Managing Director of Development Policy and Partnership Axel Van Trotsenburge (Axel von Trotsenburg), she called for the speedy release of the US$ 500 million pledged by the World Bank as budget support in the current fiscal year in light of their contribution to the inclusion of middle-income countries.

He assured that the World Bank's assistance will continue in Bangladesh's desired path to pass the status of upper-middle-income and high-income countries.

Director General of the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, at talks with the PM, lauded Bangladesh's achievements in the health sector, especially in basic health care.

The prime minister referred to her bilateral meeting with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the conference. She said they both expressed satisfaction with the existing bilateral relations and desired bilateral trade cooperation in wheat, edible oil and other agricultural products.

"I urged him to explore effective ways to quickly resolve the Ukraine-Russia conflict. We also discussed about the conflict in the Gaza Strip," she said.

Int'l platforms don't work on time: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday said there are many international platforms, but the forums don't work in times of need.

"I think many platforms were already formed, but these don't work in time," she said responding to a question from Enayetullah Khan, Editor-in-Chief of United News of Bangladesh (UNB), at a press conference at Ganobhaban.

The press conference was organised to inform about the outcomes of her recent visit to Germany to attend the Munich Security Conference-2024.

The prime minister said she doesn't think of taking any initiative to create a new platform with middle powers or emerging powers as she is busy with Bangladesh and the large population on a small land.

Khan in his question said now Bangladesh is in a geopolitical conflict when the non-allianged platform has become irrelevant in the current political landscape. There are middle powers and emerging powers like ours (Bangladesh). Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam among them, he said.

"You (Sheikh Hasina) have led many issues starting from climate change to mother and child, and women empowerment (in the international forums). Do you think of taking an initiative to create a new platform with the middle powers and emerging powers?" asked the UNB Editor-in-Chief.

In reply, the premier said, "I am an ordinary person. I am busy with my country, its people, the large population on a small land (of the country). Yes, I raise my voice and protest where I see any injustice. I always say that I don't want war, rather I want peace."

Hasina, however, said she doesn't have any competence and contemplation to form any platform like this.

She said vetoes are given even over proposals to stop the Gaza war in the United Nations Security Council as had been during the Liberation War of Bangladesh. But genocide continues in Gaza where even hospitals are not being spared of attacks and children don't have foods.

"I protest such things. I am conscious enough over my power whatever I have. I don't think that I need to do anything bigger than it," she said.