Tarique’s UNGA speech outlines global peace, reconstruction, Rohingya solutions.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's address at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly has outlined important pathways towards peaceful resolution of global conflicts, state reconstruction, a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis, climate change, women's empowerment, equitable water distribution and people's empowerment.
His speech is a rare and historic event for Bangladesh as he became the third member of his family to address the UNGA.
This is a historic event for Bangladesh and a matter of pride for Bangladesh.
Expectations remain high that Tarique Rahman will also advance Bangladesh's leadership at the international level following the footprints of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Deshnetri Begum Khaleda Zia.
In his speech he made a call for peaceful resolution to global conflicts, which is very significant in the prevailing international situation.
Without condemning any particular side by name, the speech placed emphasis on dialogue and discussion as the means of resolving conflicts.
Politics is the strategy to reach a consensus. If different sides sit at the table for dialogue, the distance between them can often be brought closer to a settlement.
The 3-R strategy (Recovery, Restoration and Reconstruction—for state reform and reconstruction) also emerged as an important element of the prime minister's address.
Bangladesh's democratic system, law-and-order situation and various institutional structures have suffered damage over a prolonged period, making recovery and reconstruction necessary.
The 3-R strategy reflected the need to address these challenges through a structured process of rebuilding the state.
Recovery means restoring lost aspects, while restoration involves recovering lost resources and opportunities and distributing them among the people on the basis of justice.
Reconstruction, meanwhile, involves rebuilding damaged state institutions, the law-and-order system and other institutional structures.
Politics is the authoritative allocation of values among the people of the country.
In this context, equitable distribution of state resources and opportunities among the people constitute an important part of governing the state.
Regarding the Rohingya crisis, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has conveyed an important message by clearly stating that the safe, dignified and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas to Myanmar is the only solution to the crisis.
We have seen the Rohingya issue being raised several times before.
It was said that the problem would be resolved, but the problem has not been resolved.
The crisis was not created by Bangladesh; rather, Myanmar created the crisis and sent the Rohingyas to Bangladesh.
Therefore, Myanmar must play the leading role in their repatriation.
International politics has also become intertwined with the Rohingya crisis.
Due to the roles played by various countries, including China, India and the United States, the issue has now become a broader international concern.
By raising the issue before representatives of different countries of the world at the United Nations General Assembly, Bangladesh’s position has become clearer to the international community.
Those states that are involved in this issue have heard about it. The Prime Minister has put forward a proposal on how this problem can be resolved through the United Nations and indicated that Myanmar itself must take the initiative in this regard.
Due to roles of China, the United States and India, as well as UN Secretary-General, the Rohingya crisis has become a greater international issue.
Various assurances had been given in the past regarding the repatriation of the Rohingyas, but in reality, the process did not move forward.
The UN Secretary-General had also expressed optimism several years ago about the Rohingyas returning to their homeland, but that expectation was not realised.
Tarique Rahman has raised the issue at the United Nations by taking the right decision at the right time.
Regarding the issue of women’s education and empowerment raised in the Prime Minister’s speech, Bangladesh has a long-standing continuity in women’s development, which progressed through various initiatives from the time of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman to the period of Begum Khaleda Zia.
The Prime Minister has highlighted how women’s education developed from the time of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman through the period of Khaleda Zia, how women gradually progressed, and particularly the issue of women’s empowerment.
Women’s empowerment through education and employment is important. Various types of stipends for female students have also played a role in this regard.
Regarding climate change, it is an extremely important issue for Bangladesh. As a coastal and densely populated country, Bangladesh, along with people in many other countries around the world, could be severely affected by the impacts of climate change.
By raising the issue at an international forum, the Prime Minister has presented Bangladesh’s risks and concerns before the global community.
The issues of the Padma and Teesta barrages and water sharing were raised in the Prime Minister’s speech.
Bangladesh has long faced problems with its neighbouring country over water sharing. By raising the issue at an international forum like the United Nations, the importance of the problem has been made clear to the global community.
There has been a long-standing problem with a neighbouring country over water sharing, which has not been resolved.
This issue has now been brought to the attention of the whole world through the United Nations. If this problem is resolved, it will have a positive economic impact on Bangladesh.
Clearly raising nationally important issues at the international level could also reduce the scope for misinformation or misconceptions concerning the country’s armed forces.
The prime minister has raised this issue, which is also important to prevent any misinformation about the armed forces.
The issue of people’s empowerment also received importance in the Prime Minister’s speech.
Education is important for involving people in the country’s development and governance, as well as for developing them into responsible citizens.
Various initiatives for social protection and financial assistance for children and women could create opportunities to increase people’s socioeconomic participation.
The country belongs to the people. The Prime Minister’s speech also placed emphasis on ensuring that the people can play a special role in empowering themselves in the country.
The speech highlighted Bangladesh’s various interests and concerns in the international arena alongside the country’s internal reconstruction and development.
(The writer is an eminent political scientist and former chairman of the Department of Political Science at the University of Dhaka)
