PM for larger global support for developing countries

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday urged the World Bank and other international organisations to strengthen support to developing countries like Bangladesh to overcome the crisis stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.

"Help developing countries like Bangladesh to face the existing crisis that has arisen from the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war," she said to WB Managing Director for Operations Axel van Trotsenburg, who paid a courtesy call on her at her office Monday morning.

Trotsenburg termed Bangladesh's development "incredible" and gave assurance of staying beside Dhaka in its development spree, PM's speechwriter M Nazrul Islam told the media later.

"We have been beside Bangladesh since 1972 and will continue to support its development efforts," he said.

Stating that the developed countries are mainly responsible for climate change impacts, Hasina called for fulfilling their pledges by providing their promised money to the climate fund.

"But they [developed countries] are not complying with their promises," she said.

The PM briefly described her government's steps to overcome the challenges arising out of climate change.

She said her government formed a climate trust fund with its own finance, alongside taking measures for massive afforestation, building green belts and sustainable housings for vulnerable people and implementing the Delta Plan 2100 to give the new generations developed life.

The premier said Bangladesh saw fast development in the past 14 years owing to political stability and her government's efforts to implement its vision to give the countrymen a beautiful and improved life as envisioned by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, she said, Bangladesh had continuously achieved over 8% GDP growth.

The PM said developing countries have fallen into trouble with skyrocketing prices of fuel oil, foodstuff and transportation costs due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.

"After the pandemic broke out, the GDP growth declined and there were some impediments on Bangladesh's development – which is now being recovered."

Trotsenburg said developing countries like Bangladesh would have to face some challenges due to Covid-19 pandemic, Russia-Ukraine war and the impacts of climate change.

He said those countries should generate employment for new generations to overcome challenges that are required to accomplish sustainable development goals.

Trotsenburg arrived in Dhaka on Saturday on his maiden three-day official visit to Bangladesh.