The Commonwealth on Tuesday lauded Bangladesh’s progress over the years towards democracy, good governance and rule of law as well as in ensuring equal opportunity and freedom of expression.The appreciation came when Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office.
Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad briefed the reporters after the meeting.
Sharma, now in Dhaka to attend the 10th Commonwealth Women Affairs Ministers’ Meeting (10 WAMM), also appreciated Bangladesh success in strengthening democracy, containing terrorism and militancy, and in upholding human rights.
He also assured the Commonwealth’s support to Bangladesh in this regard.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister said Bangladesh valued the technical assistance the Commonwealth extended to public sector training programme as well as to the implementation of projects such as submission to the UN Commission on the Limit of the Contenental Shelf in recent times.
She congratulated the Commonwealth Secretary General on recent adoption of the Strategic Plan 2013-2016 which outlines the focus and priorities in the works of the Organization for the next three years.
In this connection, Hasina requested the Commonwealth Secretary General to consider the issues of food security, climate change, women empowerment and migration during the implementation of the Strategic Plan.
She expressed Bangladesh’s abiding commitment to the Commonwealth’s fundamental values and principles such as promotion of democracy, rule of law, gender equity and freedom of expression.
The Prime Minister thanked Sharma for his sincere cooperation in the successful holding of the 10 WAMM in Dhaka on time.
“Bangladesh is happy to host this meeting as the country is regarded as a champion of women’s empowerment in the developing world,” she said.
She highlighted the government’s steps for strengthening democracy, human rights and rule of law in Bangladesh. Ambassador at-Large M Ziauddin was also present. (Source: UNB)
