Covid-19 crisis: PM recommends measures for UN-ESCAP for quick recovery

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recommended the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP) to take four measures today, including one that will help the developed world, development partners and international financial institutions (IFIs) to come forward and ensure quick recovery from the Covid-19 crisis.
Sheikh Hasina made the recommendations in her recorded speech delivered at the 77th Annual Session of the UN-ESCAP.
Top representatives from different international agencies also spoke at the session chaired by Kazakhstan Deputy Prime Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi.
ESCAP's four-day (Monday-Thursday) virtual session is being held under the theme "Building back better from crises through regional cooperation in Asia and the Pacific".
The four measures that the Bangladesh Prime Minister recommended for ESCAP include: The developed world, development partners, and IFIs should come forward in attaining quick recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic; to "build back better" from any crisis and the development approach should be a more inclusive, resilient and environmentally friendly one.
The measures also include the Asia-Pacific region taking efficient policies and strategies for a strengthened and universal public health system; and establishing seamless connectivity in the areas of trade, transport, energy and ICT, science, and technology.
Talking about the Rohingya issue, Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh is hosting 1.1 million forcefully displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar.
"We urge the international community to remain focused on this issue for a viable solution through sustainable repatriation," she said.
"In Bangladesh, we've announced stimulus packages worth about USD 14.6 billion, around 4.44% of our GDP, for widening social protection, retaining jobs, and bolstering the economy," Hasina said.
She said the latest Five-Year Plan included strategies for recovery from Covid-19 and preparing Bangladesh for smooth and sustainable LDC graduation, achieving SDGs, and setting a trajectory towards a prosperous country by 2041.