Hasina calls for settlement of all international disputes for peace

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the world leaders to commit to settle all international disputes through peaceful means and prevent conflict in all circumstances.

They must ensure a peaceful world as peace is eluding, she said at the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit in New York on Monday.

“Strengthen cooperation to achieve sustainable development goals, promote tolerance, preserve diversity, protect the religious and ethnic minorities from discrimination and exploitation,” she told the summit at the UN Headquarters.

The prime minister said that the world leaders must fight emerging global challenges like terrorism, through stopping the flow of financing to the terrorists, and the source of supply of arms to the terrorists and their outfits.

Hasina also spoke of Bangladesh’s role in establishing global peace. “We are committed to global peace since our independence in 1971. The peacekeepers of Bangladesh are saving lives in many parts of the world.”

Hasina also urged the global leaders to fight climate change built upon resilience, promote and protect human rights in any circumstances and nurture culture of peace and non-violence.

“Yet, peace is eluding us. Conflicts are far from being resolved. Human rights and fundamental freedoms, which leaders like Mandela fought for, are yet to be secured. People in many parts of the world are suffering from hunger and malnourishment,” the prime minister observed.

“Racism, populism and intolerance are on the rise. People in many societies are facing discrimination, forced displacement, torture and even genocide due to their ethnic and religious identity,” she added.

The peace summit was organised on the occasion of the 100th birth anniversary of Nelson Mandela.

Talking about the life of Mandela, Hasina said that he began his political life as a leader of his people to fight apartheid in South Africa. Later, with his sacrifice, dedication, compassion for people, he became the undisputed leader of the humanity. Peace, freedom, unity have been his life-long mantra.

“Let us work together to achieve his dream and let him rest in peace,” she said.