LDC leaders - Breakfast Meeting

Address by

Her Excellency Sheikh Hasina

Prime Minister

Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh

UN HQ, New York, Monday, 21 September 2010

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim


Mr. Chairman,

Excellencies and Distinguished Colleagues,


Assalamu Alaikum and Good Morning to you all.


I am pleased to be here with you all this morning.


Mr. Chairman,

Our road to the Millennium Development Goals had some serious setbacks due to the recent world economic recession, and adverse impacts of climate change and global warming. Both these phenomena owe their origin in the developed world, whereas the maximum sufferance as a result is being felt by the LDCs, in terms of reduction in investment, remittances, tourism, exports, and shortages of food and energy. This has, no doubt, retarded progress of most of our countries in attaining the MDGs by 2015.

To us LDCs, food security is of prime concern. Unfortunately, climate change and the world recession in 2008 created universal food shortage. Even countries with money faced hardship in procuring food. For many this was a stark revelation. Therefore, for food security, besides increasing own production, we need to adopt innovative strategies, including, South-South and North Cooperation, employment of excess farmers in some countries to farm uncultivated lands in some other countries, with the North supplying tools, technology, quality inputs.

This would be an ideal arrangement for producing food for self consumption, for exports, and for ensuring global food security.

To us LDCs, SIDS and MVCs, climate change is of vital concern. Last year at COP 15, we could build our case of being the worst affected, and therefore, need maximum financial assistance from the developed world, whose reckless industrialization has brought us to such dire straits. The Copenhagen Accord was to be the base for a legally binding agreement based on the Bali Plan of Action, with commitments of specific cuts of greenhouse gas emissions from all major producers, and establishment of a "Climate Change Fund" to help the affected countries such as ours. I strongly feel, we should go to COP 16 in December next at Cancun with prior agreed positions on all these crucial issues.

I warmly congratulate His Excellency, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Co-Chair of the High Level Advisory Group on Climate Change Financing for his continuing efforts in ensuring that LDCs, SIDS, and MVCs perspective, be accepted in managing the "Fund", and for its fast implementation.

Our urgency is simply because Bangladesh with 160 million people of whom 30 million live in 140 islands, would be going under water with a meter rise in sea level. We are, therefore, eagerly looking forward to the "Fund' and its quick disbursements for timely implementation of our 134-point climate change action plan.

I would also seek an LDC consensus on the question of rehabilitation of climate change migrants. Scientific estimates indicate that by 2050 there will be a billion climate displaced people with one in every 45 people in the world, a victim. Most would seek migration, and they would be from LDCs moving within their countries, or beyond. Such movement would cause social disorders, political instability, cross border conflicts, and upheavals.

Therefore, I believe it is time for a united call from our group at COP 16 to consider and adopt a new legal regime under the UNFCC Protocol to ensure social, cultural and economic rehabilitation of climate change induced persons.

Mr. Chairman,          

Fiscal stimulus has been helpful in producing signs of recovery from the global recession. But it is not a durable, sustainable solution. The ongoing economic malaise is due to years of disregard for equity and justice. The present character of the Bretton Woods Institutions has also had its unrealistic role. For any real change for good, the LDCs must have a stronger presence in the World Bank and the IMF.

Also, developed countries must be persuaded to give liberal trade concessions as duty and quota free market access to the LDCs. Indeed, the Doha Development Round of WTO negotiations must conclude soon.

Even more urgent is OECD's fulfillment of ODA commitment of 0.2 percent of their GNI to LDCs by 2010, as reaffirmed in the Brussels Program of Action. As for the US $ 1.1 trillion decided at the G-20 London Summit to restore credit, growth and jobs in the world economy, and the Framework for Strong, Sustainable and Balanced Growth of the G-20 Pittsburgh Summit in 2009, the LDCs need to push hard to change the stringent conditions for receiving the benefits of those promises.

Mr. Chairman,

In conclusion, let me say Bangladesh was privileged to host the Asia-Pacific High Level Policy Dialogue in January this year. I was present at the dialogue, which adopted the Dhaka Outcome Document.

Later, I had the opportunity to present the Document at the 66th Annual Session of ESCAP in the Republic of Korea. ESCAP endorsed the Document which will be presented at the 4th UN Conference on LDCs in Istanbul next year. The Document encompasses the aspirations of all LDCs. I hope our group would remain united in formulating a common vision, so that all may rise and prosper together in future. 

I thank you for your patient hearing.


Khoda Hafez.

Joi Bangla, Joi Bangabandhu

May Bangladesh Live Forever.