Mr. President,
Mr. Secretary General,
Excellencies.
Assalamu Alaikum.
The 75th anniversary of the United Nations that we are celebrating today is a momentous occasion for all.
This commemoration bears special significance for us as it coincides with the Birth Centenary of our Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
He had said at this august assembly in 1974, “… the United Nations remains the focus of man’s hope for the future.”
This encapsulates Bangladesh’s abiding faith and confidence in the UN and multilateralism.
We commend the UN Secretary-General for keeping the flag of multilateralism high. I also pay tribute to all frontline UN staff and agencies for their tireless efforts and dedication.
Bangladesh is being benefitted from UN-led efforts for our development. Also in our modest way, we are contributing to the UN in fulfilling its mandates.
We are committed to upholding peace across the world. Currently, Bangladesh is the leading troops and police contributing country in all peace operations.
As many as 150 of our peacekeepers sacrificed their lives to secure peace in conflict-ravaged countries.
Mr. President,
The challenges of our time, including the current pandemic, go beyond borders. COVID-19 has made the achievement of the 2030 Agenda more challenging. It has exposed the short comings of the current international order.
At the same time, the pandemic has shown that both developed and developing nations need the UN more than ever. It has shown us that multilateralism is the way forward.
To take the UN on the right course towards its centenary and beyond, UN@75 should provide a credible and practical roadmap for delivering on commitments and responding decisively to global challenges.
We must not allow our geopolitical rivalries to weaken the UN. We owe it to the founding fathers and future generations to make the UN a truly effective global body for humankind as a whole.
Mr. President,
We have seen moments in history that made us re-group to change the course of human civilization. UN@75 presents another such moment.
Let us seize this moment.
I thank you all.