Bangladesh urges combined strategies at NAM to face COVID-19

Bangladesh urged Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) states to devise a clear strategy for the economic recovery of the vulnerable countries due to the adverse impacts of coronavirus pandemic in world economy.

Joining the online NAM summit held on Monday Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen placed the demands, said a foreign ministry press release.   

The Republic of Azerbaijan, the current Chair of NAM convened this high-level online meeting. Around 40 countries participated in the meeting. The meeting took place today at around 5.00 pm (Bangladesh time)

Bangladesh proposed at the body to adopt the provision of short-medium-long term support from the bilateral and multilateral development partners, protection of jobs of the migrant population and ensuring the flow of vital medical supplies and essential goods, services and food supply chains amid coronavirus pandemic.

Presided over by Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Chair of the Movement, the Online Summit was attended by Heads of States/ Governments, Foreign Ministers and other dignitaries of NAM member countries as well as high officials of the United Nations.

The Summit was organized to formulate the NAM's response to the extra-ordinary crisis resulting from the COVID-19.

In his statement, Foreign Minister thanked the President of Azerbaijan for his timely initiative to convene a virtual NAM Summit level meeting on the pressing global emergency.

He mentioned that the COVID-19 had triggered an overwhelming global public health crisis affecting the health, lives, and livelihoods of peoples of nearly all countries of the world for this they were barely prepared.

He highlighted how Bangladesh has been coping with the pandemic under the direct supervision of Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina, who issued a 31-point directive seeking to mitigate its impact on our population.

He continued that the Government has already allocated nearly USD 11.6 billion to help the vulnerable people and businesses to bear with the shocks of the pandemic.

Underscoring the pandemic's adverse effect on two major sectors of Bangladesh's economy- ready-made garments (RMG) and remittance, Dr. Momen urged the NAM membership to work out innovative solutions and approaches to tackle the crisis.

He emphasized that the NAM's response must be embedded in multilateralism and international solidarity through forging a robust global partnership with the G7, G20, OECD, and the U.N.

He hoped that the challenge of the COVID-19 would galvanize the NAM's efforts and strengthen the Group's resolve to defeat the invincible enemy through meaningful global actions.