Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said the world needs right policies and institutions to help young women choose a career in science and technology. “We need more women and girls in science for a just, inclusive, and sustainable future. We must have the right policies and institutions for young women to choose a career in science and technology,” she said. The prime minister said this in a video statement that was played in the 9th International Day of Women and Girls in Science Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. She mentioned that it is important that women in science are promoted to leadership positions. PM Hasina hails January-7  election as the freest since 1975  “In Bangladesh, I personally commit to advancing the work of our women scientists through recognition and incentives,” she said. The prime minister mentioned that the government is digitally empowering thousands of women and girls across the country. “I feel delighted to see their vibrant presence in the digital marketplace. We offer dedicated training for young women to help them grow as IT freelancers. I wish to see our young people with disabilities transform their lives through digital inclusion,” she said. Hasina said that the government is expanding technical and vocational education for women to help them prepare for the future of work. ISRO Chandrayaan-3: 9 Women Scientists Who Led India’s Moon Landing “We have made it mandatory for all high school graduates to get an education in science and ICT,” she said. The premier said that in the past the number of female students in higher education, especially in science and technology, was not satisfactory. However, she said, the participation of women in science education has improved significantly in recent years due to our concerted efforts. She mentioned that in public universities of Bangladesh, about 40 percent of total students are female, while in private universities, their percentage is 30. Women should be proud of PM Hasina for her capability, leadership: India's President “We make sure that women get preference in the research and innovation grants we offer. Our young girls need to be prepared to realise our vision of a ‘Smart Bangladesh’,” she added, PM Hasina vowed to always remain devoted to women's and girls’ education in science and technology. According to the United Nations a significant gender gap has persisted throughout the years at all levels of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines all over the world. Dr Gawsia and Dr Senjuti from Bangladesh among top 100 Asian scientists Even though women have made tremendous progress towards increasing their participation in higher education, they are still under-represented in these fields. It said that gender equality has always been a core issue for the United Nations. Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls will make a crucial contribution not only to economic development of the world, but to progress across all the goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well. On 14 March 2011, the Commission on the Status of Women adopted a report at its fifty-fifth session, with agreed conclusions on access and participation of women and girls in education, training and science and technology, and for the promotion of women’s equal access to full employment and decent work. On 20 December 2013, the General Assembly adopted a resolution on science, technology and innovation for development, in which it recognised that full and equal access to and participation in science, technology and innovation for women and girls of all ages is imperative for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. Read more: Bangladeshi imaging scientist Nayma shines on global stage

The United Nations headquarters in New York City was locked down for several hours Thursday after a man was seen pacing outside one of its main gates with a loaded shotgun, holding it under his chin at times, police said. The man, who appeared to be in his 60s, was taken into custody without incident at around 1:40 p.m., about three hours after police said he was first spotted outside a U.N. security checkpoint on Manhattan’s First Avenue. He was taken to a hospital for evaluation, NYPD Chief of Special Operations Harry Wedin said. The gun was loaded with one shotgun shell, Wedin said. The man also had a bag with him and gave police documents, included medical papers, that he said he wanted delivered to the U.N., Wedin said. Also read: Armed man holds 20 people hostage in Ukraine U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that “as part of the negotiations with NYPD, the man said he wanted to first give some papers to the UN." “Our Security officers took possession of the papers," Dujarric said. “As soon as the man surrendered, we returned the papers to the NYPD. The papers appeared to be of a medical nature, nothing related to the U.N." The gates on the fence that rings the U.N. complex were closed, and the man didn’t appear to be trying to breach the security perimeter. Police said there was no danger to the public. Wedin said the man never pointed the gun at officers and did not threaten to harm them. NYPD First Deputy Commissioner Benjamin Tucker said there was no evidence of a link to terrorism. There was no note in the man's papers, Tucker said, but detectives were looking into names and notations on the documents for clues to his behavior. “Essentially, he wanted the U.N. to receive his documents, which is ultimately what we agreed to do — provide those documents to the U.N. — and he said if we could do that, he would put the gun down, which is exactly what happened," Tucker told reporters outside U.N. headquarters. Tucker said the man was visiting from Florida and walked to the U.N. from the Millennium Hotel, a few blocks away near Times Square, where he'd been staying since Wednesday. Also read: Armed men seize Dr. Yunus’ shrimp farm in Chakaria Tucker said the bomb squad swept the hotel, the man's room and a pickup truck connected to him that was parked outside the hotel and found no outstanding threats. Tucker said criminal charges were pending. He did not identify the man by name, but said he didn't have a criminal record. People inside U.N. headquarters were initially told to shelter in place, but were later allowed to move about the complex and come and go from other entrances. The U.N. General Assembly and Security Council were both in session Thursday. A 911 call reporting the man to police was placed from inside the U.N. building, Tucker said. “We thank the NYPD for their quick response to the incident and we remain in contact with them as they conduct their investigation,” U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said in a statement. Dujarric said earlier there was “zero indication” the man was a current or former U.N. employee.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday stressed on the importance of five actions to fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as it is crucial for preventing future pandemics. The Prime Minister put forward the actions at the high-level Interactive Dialogue on AMR through her pre-recorded statement played at the opening segment of the dialogue at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The actions include an integrated multisectoral action plan on AMR, including a collective action plan by the international community at both regional and global levels with special focus on low- and middle-income countries; and good manufacturing, laboratory practices and surveillance framework. The three other actions are equitable access to affordable and effective antibiotics, as required, through transfer of technology and sharing of ownership; sustainable financing for AMR containment activities and finally global public awareness in combating AMR through political commitment and partnership among the member states. Also read: People’s lives come first: PM Hasina “Addressing the challenges of AMR is crucial for preventing future pandemics. We need to implement the 2015 Global Action Plan on AMR, 2016 UN political declaration on AMR, and formulate AMR national action plans,” she said. As co-chairs of the Global Leaders Group on AMR, the Prime Ministers of Bangladesh and Barbados stand ready to work with all relevant stakeholders in contributing to the fight against AMR, Hasina said. She said the world is now witnessing the devastating pandemic of Covid-19. “However, antimicrobial resistance may cause even more lethal pandemics in the future.” The Prime Minister mentioned that failure to tackle this hazard in time will result in huge loss of human lives, animals, and plants. Also read: Hasina places 4 suggestions to deal with climate challenge According to an estimate by the WHO, she said, 10 million people will die every year by 2050 from AMR, and economic losses will be trillions of dollars disrupting food security and progress towards achievement of the SDGs and universal health coverage. Turning to Bangladesh, the Prime Minister said the government has developed a six-year (from 2017 to 2022) National Strategic Plan and National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance Containment (ARC). Besides, she said, the National Technical Committee on ARC and the Bangladesh AMR Response Alliance have been formed. Hasina said laboratory-based AMR surveillance for both human and animal health is being conducted regularly to ensure WHO categorisation. “Similarly, from 2019, we’ve been providing AMR surveillance data to WHO GLASS Platform.” Also read: Covid vaccines should be declared as global public goods: PM Hasina President of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly Volkan Bozkir convened the high-level dialogue calling for accelerated action to tackle the growing threat of AMR. AMR --referred to as a silent tsunami— has the potential to be the next global health crisis and has already affected the response to Covid-19.   AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time. As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections become increasingly difficult or impossible to treat-increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. According to the UN website data, the Covid-19 pandemic has shown the ease with which infections can spread, threaten global health security and destabilise economies, lives and livelihoods. AMR is a rising pandemic and challenges the effective delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Also read: Implementation of Paris deal only way to check global warming: Hasina Currently, at least an estimated 700,000 people die each year due to drug-resistant diseases. If no action is taken, drug-resistant diseases could cause 10 million deaths each year by 2050 and damage to the economy as catastrophic as the 2008-2009 global financial crisis; and by 2030, AMR could force up to 24 million people into extreme poverty. Prime Minister of Barbados and also Co-chair of the One Health Global Leaders Group on Antimicrobial Resistance Mia Amor Mottley, President of the 75th UNGA Volkan Bozkir, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed,  Director General of World Health Organisation (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) Qu Dongyu, Director General of World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Dr Monique Eloit and Deputy Executive Director of UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Joyce Msuya spoke at the opening segment of the dialogue.

Bangladesh has been elected member of the Executive Board of the UNDP, UNFPA and UNOPS securing the highest votes -- 53 out of the 54 with 1 abstention - for the term 2021-2023, beginning from January 1, 2021.