Time to shape global partnership for combating Covid-19

Since the very onset, an absence of robust international cooperation to tackle a global pandemic has been observed. Meanwhile, the UN Secretary-General has called for a global ceasefire, reductions in sexual and domestic violence, and proposed a plan to tackle the devastating consequences of the crisis. 

Unfortunately, major powers have been sluggish in joining theirs hands to come up with a collective action plan in combating Covid-19. The Security Council has not convened yet to discuss COVID-19. 

The G20 and G7 have yet to set out a comprehensive plan for Covid-19 response and recovery.

Let us consider the major effects and consequences of the coronavirus pandemic on our lives and our societies. 

The world is battling the COVID-19 global health emergency and its economic and social ramifications. It is also racing against the clock to avoid the environmental crisis around the corner. 

The pandemic has shown us the importance of being prepared collectively when crises hit. Only such an approach can deliver win-win-win policies for people, planet and prosperity. 

This pandemic provides us with the opportunity to take a comprehensive look at the sustainability of our environmental, economic and social systems, and at the way they interact and create more resilient societies. 

The crisis has shown that we can be more prudent in our consumption patterns to be better aligned for health security. 

The question on how we can restart the economy and generate jobs, while dealing with the looming challenge of public health has now become pertinent. 

A just, net-zero emissions and resilient recovery should create new opportunities for all and reduce inequalities in outcomes, for example, with respect to health, where large economic returns from enhanced human capital could be achieved. 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's call for forging a collective global partnership and greater unity to fight the coronavirus pandemic was highly commendable. 

On 23 April 2020, in a virtual regional conference organized by the World Economic Forum titled 'Enhancing regional cooperation in South Asia to combat Covid-19 related impact on its economics', Sheikh Hasina placed a five-point proposal to combat this global crisis with an approach of collective responsibility and partnership from society. 
The proposal she pointed out calling for the robust global leadership from G7, G20 and OECD at the side of UN-led multilateral system. 

She has asked for devising strategies and practical support measures for revitalizing global businesses, operations and manufacturing, in addition to sharing the burden and responsibilities for the migrant workers. She ended with a call for developing innovative solutions in various sectors to better prepare for the future.

The government has taken prompt measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, where the country's public policies have been the key. 

Broadly, a public policy is a set of principles in the form of acts, guidelines, procedures, circulars, orders and action plans prepared by the ministries and approved by the government in order to control the behaviour of the public. 

A total of 444 public policies have already been made by different ministries to regulate and control people's behaviour, and distribute and redistribute resources to prevent any possible mayhem for COVID-19. 

The key emphasis of the policies is implementation and monitoring, in order to successfully prevent COVID-19. 

The 31-point directive of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina serves as the overall policy to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The fight against COVID-19 is to be fought through three major processes, which are preparedness, prevention and protection.

Then again, global leaders have promised in a video gathering facilitated by WHO to quicken participation on a coronavirus vaccine and to share research, treatment and drugs over the globe. 

Be that as it may, the United States didn't participate in the initiative by WHO, in an indication of Donald Trump's expanding disengagement on the worldwide stage. 

The participation promise made at a virtual gathering was intended to show that affluent nations won't shield the consequences of research from developing nations. 

The global leaders, likewise, spoke to an emblematic underwriting of the United Nations body, even with Trump's choice to suspend US instalments and denounce its pioneers as subordinates of the Chinese Communist Party. 

China and the US have blamed each other for disinformation over the coronavirus flare-up, harming endeavours to ensure collaboration at the G20, the normal universal establishment to deal with worldwide wellbeing outside the UN.

Instead, an ad hoc alliance of 20 world leaders and global health figures were on the call, including German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, French President, Emmanuel Macron, and American Philanthropist Bill Gates. 

England will co-seat a joint coronavirus worldwide reaction summit on 4 May, planned for raising assets for immunization research, medicines and tests. 

England has been perhaps the greatest supporter of the worldwide exertion to discover a coronavirus immunization, giving £250m to global research on the malady at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.

Reality suggests that absence of an organized worldwide reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic is incompletely in light of the fact that a large number of the most proficient states have been hit hardest, thus focused inside. 

But the entrenchment of great power competition as a salient feature of global politics is also playing a profound role. 

Smaller states must now step up to stabilise the global order. Responding to the mounting nationalism and protectionism, the United States, China and Russia are endeavouring to shape the external condition to their advantages. 

Be that as it may, the pandemic is overwhelming, inescapable and expensive for any of these forces to viably oversee all alone and consequently, it requires multilateral arrangements without a second thought.

China's bilateral-based 'mask diplomacy' has also turned out to be disastrous, with multiple states reporting much of the equipment received is largely useless. 

Relations, consequently, were especially hurt with the European Union, where authorities are progressively vocal of the geopolitical underpinnings of China's activities and the need to counter them. 

While not paying attention to the pandemic at home, Russia is activating its disinformation capacities to give occasion to feel qualms about the inceptions of the infection and condemn the western ways in dealing with it. 

Russia rushed to send help abroad, which, were futile to a great extent and to a greater degree, a prop to fake the nation's ability to react. China and Russia are proceeding with provocative military exercises, showing that they may attempt to exploit the world's emphasis on the pandemic to advance their geopolitical points

The 'America First' doctrine of the Trump administration is increasing antagonism with China and Russia, as well as diminishing multilateral institutions and alliance relationships. 

Most troubling is a finished surrender of US authority, which verifiably has been essential in arranging and assembling worldwide reactions to different catastrophes. Curiously, China shows increasingly keenness on endeavouring to rebuild the post-pandemic world in accordance with its own domineering points than really combatting it viably.

The Covid-19 pandemic is a wake-up call for the expanding multilateralism. Trying to cope with the immediate devastating effects of the virus, nations have turned toward imposing unprecedented executive measures, including closing borders. 

However, a virus knows no borders and most of the countries in the world are affected. We must remain united in our shared humanity. 

The fight against this global pandemic, which is taking so many lives and challenging our societies, needs more enhanced international cooperation and worldwide solidarity.

Containing and countering this pandemic calls for a co-operative, transparent, science-based and coordinated global response. 

The serious threat to all countries, particularly developing and least developed countries, countries in situations of conflict and post-conflict countries, are concerning, where health systems are inadequately prepared, as well as the particular risk faced by refugees and displaced persons.

All governments should strictly ensure that any measures taken to counter the pandemic is necessary and proportionate, pursues legitimate purposes, is timely, non-discriminatory and respectful of international law, including human rights law. 

Data from all over the world should be shared openly and speedily in an effort to contain the epidemic and develop medicines and vaccines. Global coordination can overcome bottlenecks in production and can make sure that the equipment goes to the countries that need it most. 

The author is an Associate Professor of Government and Politics at Jahangirnagar University. He was also the Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Oxford in 2018.