PM seeks more ‘global collaboration’ to fight Coronavirus

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has sought “urgent global attention and further collaboration” to defeat the coronavirus pandemic, save lives and accelerate economic recovery as she placed three-point proposal at the 31st Special Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly (UNGA).

“Yet, there is a need for urgent global attention and further collaboration in three priority areas … Bangladesh stands ready to work with all in this (global) efforts,” she said in a pre-recorded speech on Thursday evening New York time (Bangladesh time Friday morning) at the special UNGA session convened in response to COVID-19 pandemic.

The current Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Chair Azerbaijan and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have convened the two-day special session that started on December 3.

The three-point proposal placed by the Bangladesh prime minister in the special UNGA session are- ensuring universal and equitable access to quality COVID-19 vaccine, transferring technology to developing countries to manufacture it locally and providing them with financial assistance to face challenges in wake of the pandemic.

In her first proposal, Sheikh Hasina said the world needs to ensure universal, equitable, timely and affordable access to quality vaccines.

She pointed out that the 2030 Development agenda recognized the fundamental role of Universal Health Coverage for achieving the SDGs guided by the principle of equity._BSS.