Hasina specifies Bangladesh’s importance through G7 Outreach Meeting in Japan: Officials

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has made Bangladesh’s importance evident to the global leaders at the G7 Outreach Meeting in Japan, officials have said.

Hasina’s Principal Secretary Abul Kalam Azad briefed the media about the participation of Bangladesh in the meeting on Friday.

He said the countries other than Bangladesh invited to the meeting “mainly” represent any one group.

“But Bangladesh was invited for our significant role in global economy,” he said.

Azad said the prime minister focused on four issues at the meeting.

Prime Minister Hasina spoke about women empowerment, quality infrastructure, climate and health at the meeting, he said. 

Sheikh Hasina at the inaugural session

US President Barack Obama taking a seat beside Hasina

“We have played a significant role in these four sectors. We have taken on big infrastructure projects; we are a role model in women empowerment; the prime minister has received many awards for her steps to tackle the impact of climate change; and the steps to stop infant and maternal deaths have been praised,” Azad said.       

“The prime minister said at the meeting that the world will not face problems if the developed countries extend technological and financial help and cooperation to increase empowerment,” he said.

“Bangladesh’s importance has been made clear to the global leaders,” he added.

Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque said Hasina informed the global leaders about the socioeconomic development and economic progress of Bangladesh in the meeting.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaking to Hasina

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau exchanging greetings with Hasina

“The participation in the meeting is the recognition of the prime minister’s global image and her exemplary efforts to take Bangladesh forward in this difficult time,” he said.

He said the prime minister mentioned big infrastructure projects, the readymade garment industry and Special Economic Zones while speaking about the economy.

She also emphasised environmentally friendly fuel.

Prime Minister Hasina observed that investment in the health sector plays a longstanding role in development.

Speaking about providing quality health services to the grassroots level, she mentioned 30,000 mother care centres in Bangladesh.

Foreign Secretary Haque said the prime minister tried to give a new explanation of women empowerment.

Bangladesh has created a position for women empowerment in politics and in their taking policymaking decisions.

The prime minister mentioned the ‘Ekti Bari Ekti Khamar’ (one house one farm) project while speaking about women’s financial solvency.

Sheikh Hasina (3rd from left) among other leaders in the meeting

Global leaders in G7 Outreach Meeting in Japan

She said the project was a success and she laid emphasis on ensuring women’s rights.

In reply to a query, the foreign secretary said there were no significant talks on tackling terrorism and militancy.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe received Hasina on her arrival at the Shima Kanko Hotel in Ise-Shima city on Kashiko Island on Friday morning.

 Later, the Bangladesh prime minister, along with leaders of G7 nations – the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan – and other countries joined the inaugural session.

 At the meeting, Hasina sat next to US President Barack Obama and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

Host Japan’s Abe, French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister David Cameron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were also present.