Portraying the grim scenario created by the COVID-19 pandemic, Ambassador Rabab Fatima urged all stakeholders to ensure universal and affordable access to vaccines for all to ensure an equitable and sustainable recovery.

Echoing the comments made by Prime Minister Hasina in the General Debate of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Ambassador Fatima added that by sharing the vaccine technology with the capable developing countries vaccine production and distribution capacity can be scaled up by a huge margin and thus can ensure vaccine equity.

Ambassador Fatima made these comments while addressing the General Debate of the Second Committee of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly at the General Assembly Hall on 06 October 2021.

The Second Committee adopted the theme, “Crisis, Resilience and Recovery- Accelerating Progress towards the 2030 Agenda” for its debate this year against the backdrop of the double jeopardy of COVID-19 pandemic and global climate change. The theme aims to promote bold and ambitious global roadmap for sustainable and resilient recovery from the pandemic and for the achievement of 2030 agenda in a timely manner. 

Mentioning the recent initiatives taken by the global community for tackling the challenges posed by climate change, Ambassador Fatima emphasized on building up on the momentum to achieve bold and ambitious outcomes during the upcoming Climate and Biodiversity COPs. She added that as the President of the 48-member Climate vulnerable Forum, Bangladesh is willing to cooperate for limiting global temperature rise, enhancing climate finance, facilitating technology transfer, and the up-scaling of  the adaptation measures.

Underscoring the importance of external financing she requested the development partners to play their part in revitalizing export earnings, remittances, ODA, and private financing in the developing countries. Highlighting the role of remittances, Ambassador Fatima urged everyone to integrate migrant workers in the job-rich recovery efforts.

Ambassador Fatima further highlighted the role of digital technologies in the areas of education, health, job creation, and climate actions and requested all stakeholders to work collectively for the eradication of digital divide. Referring to the graduation process of Bangladesh, she called for bold and ambitious Programme of Action for the LDCs and the newly graduated countries.

Ambassador Fatima mentioned the important role the women play in the socio-economic development in Bangladesh and emphasized that they must be placed at the front of COVID-19 response and recovery efforts. 

The Second Committee of the General Assembly is mandated to address the global economic and financial issues through deliberation among the UN Member States.