Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Sunday urged the countries in the global South to stand in solidarity and unity to achieve the ultimate goals of sustainable development. He made the call while addressing the General Debate of the Third South Summit of the Group of 77 (G-77) and China in Kampala, Uganda. Underlining the ongoing global crisis due to climate change, wars and sanction-counter sanction, debt crisis, and escalating protectionism, he also said that the Member States of G-77 and China must leverage South-South cooperation to overcome these challenges. Plot-to-Plot BDS map set to start in February: Land Minister He recalled the historic address of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered at the 29th UN General Assembly in 1974 and said that Bangabandhu’s message is still very much relevant in the present global context. The Foreign Minister emphasized five pressing issues for a fairer and more equitable world such as, (i) more effective actions for SDGs implementation; (ii) reforming the current international financial architecture; (iii) addressing the technological divides; (iv) ensuring gender equality everywhere and (v) empowering the youth people through skill development and job creation. PM visits Walton Mega Stall at Dhaka Int’l Trade Fair In his address, he further highlighted the pragmatic and pro-development policies of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that have resulted in sustained economic growth in Bangladesh in the last one and a half decade. He also reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to supporting the struggles of the Palestinian people for achieving their right to freedom and justice. Earlier in the day, he attended the opening  ceremony of the Summit. Role of NGOs upheld in implementing National Youth Policy-2017  The opening ceremony was inaugurated by the President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni, as Chair of the third South Summit and the new Chair of the Group. The session was also addressed by Dennis Francis, President of the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly; António Guterres, UN Secretary-General; Liu Guozhong, Special Representative of the President of China; and Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, the host country of the Second South Summit.

Bangladesh has stressed the need for strengthening the G-77 forum under the current presidency of Cuba and for coming up with a strong statement against interference in the internal affairs of other countries at the upcoming G-77 Summit. The Summit will be held in Havana in September 2023 to promote and safeguard the interests of developing countries. Bangladesh High Commissioner to Canada, Dr. Khalilur Rahman, presented his credentials — as concurrent Ambassador to the Republic of Cuba — to Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez at the Presidential Palace in Havana on Saturday (April 15, 2023). The Ambassador received a guard of honour from the presidential guard at the palace. Read more: Want security in the region but no defence pact: Momen on Indo-Pacific Strategy After the presentation of the letters of credence, a discussion was held with the Cuban president in presence of Bruno Eduardo Rodríguez Parrilla, foreign minister of Cuba. The president of Cuba highlighted the long-standing and friendly bilateral relations laid down by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Cuban Revolutionary leader and its former president Fidel Castro. He also highlighted the bond of existing friendship ever since diplomatic relations were established between the two countries. He deeply appreciated Bangladesh’s support to Cuba in different international organizations and looked forward to continuing collaboration between the two countries. On his part, the ambassador also recalled the support of the Cuban people and its government led by the revolutionary leader Fidel Castro during Bangladesh’s war of liberation in 1971, and personal friendship between Bangabandhu and Castro. Read more: US wants Bangladesh to set a strong example of free, fair election The ambassador specifically mentioned that in recognition to the support to Liberation War by revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, the Government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina awarded him ‘Bangladesh Liberation War Honour’ on March 24, 2013.