Tackling Covid-19 pandemic: Foreign minister urges partnership among countries

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has urged all countries of the world to work together to tackle the coronavirus pandemic that is affecting the life and livelihoods, health and economies of the world.

“Partnership and cooperation of all countries is essential to tackle the coronavirus pandemic. All – irrespective of the poor and rich – need to be vaccinated to fight against the coronavirus pandemic,” he said.

The minister was today addressing the Bangabandhu Lecture Series-5 organised on the occasion of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Anwarul Karim Chowdhury, former under-secretary-general of UN, presented the keynote on “The Birth of Bangladesh and Its Inspirational Legacy in Global Diplomacy”.

Momen said Bangabandhu firmly believed that peace is essential for development and struggled for establishing Bangladesh as a land of peace. The Father of the Nation highlighted the challenges of the oppressed people of the world and thus became a global leader.

He also established secularism whereby ensuring the right to practice faiths of all freely, which is essential for religious harmony.

Momen said Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in his first Bangla speech at the UN on September 25 in 1974 presented 27 issues including global inequality, technology transfer and financial restructuring, which is relevant till today.

Referring to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinan’s vision, he said all people – men and women – need to be empowered in tackling the emerging challenges – one that can be termed as peace-centric model.

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, diplomats from different countries, journalists and academics took part in the virtual event.