Diplomats in Dhaka in a webinar have highly praised the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for taking Bangladesh forward.
“I would say honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is a real champion of human security,” Japanese ambassador Ito Naoki said in the webinar organised on Saturday marking her birthday.
UN Resident Coordinator in Dhaka Mia Seppo said anyone who meets the prime minister and has the opportunity to listen to her would be struck by her “incredibly deep knowledge” of Bangladesh.
She praised the prime minister’s ‘tireless efforts’ to move the country forward and said she is a ‘role model’ for her incredible hard work, discipline and determination’.
The International affairs wing of the ruling Awami League organised the webinar titled “Leadership of Sheikh Hasina and Bangladesh’s March Forward” marking her 73rd birthday anniversary which was celebrated on Sep 28.
Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen, State Minister Md Shahriar Alam, Awami League's International Affairs Sub-committee Chairman Ambassador Muhammad Zamir and the party's International Affairs Secretary Dr Shammi Ahmed spoke at the discussion, apart from diplomats.
Prime Minister's Special Assistant Barrister Shah Ali Farhad moderated the discussion.
The Japanese ambassador said, “Sheikh Hasina has been trying to build a society which is free from hunger, free from poverty. She respects human rights. She offers humanitarian assistance. Sheikh Hasina does protect people, does provide opportunity to people, and empower people. Sheikh Hasina is the real champion to human security”.
He also lauded growing the Bangladesh-Japan relationships during her tenure and said Japan would continue to provide assistance so that Bangladesh becomes a developed country as envisioned by Sheikh Hasina.
India's acting High Commissioner Biswadip Dey also extended the birthday greetings on behalf of the High Commission.
He said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier sent the birthday greetings to the Bangladesh prime minister in which he lauded the social transformation that has taken place in recent years in Bangladesh under her leadership.
Turkish Ambassador Mustafa Osman Turan said Sheikh Hasina has an “outstanding political carrier full of major achievements despite struggles she had to go through.”
“She has become a role model for many women both in Bangladesh and around the world. Because of her able leadership, Bangladesh has become a model for sustainable and inclusive development and lifted millions out of poverty and empowered many women in every field."
The United Arab Emirates Ambassador Abdullah Al Habibi also conveyed his birthday greetings to the prime minister. “It's needless to say that Bangladesh is marching forward... and I strongly believe it has been possible due to the leadership of Sheikh Hasina," he said.
“The days are not far that the country would be developed and would be a Sonar Bangla,” he said.
Head of the EU Delegation in Dhaka Rensje Teerink also lauded the prime minister and said the European Union “fully share the priorities and values” of Sheikh Hasina on major global issues in the UN General Assembly.
One of that was multilateralism in the UN system, she said.
Rensje also raised the Rohingya issue in the discussion and said the crisis should not be forgotten one - this should be there on the international agenda firmly.
