YouSaid · the spoken record

Fakhruddin Ahmed

lines on the record: 35
first: 2007-09-24
most recent: 2008-09-24
sittings or episodes: 2
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“Our goal is to strengthen democracy in Bangladesh, and my Government has done everything in its power over the course of the past 20 months to work towards that end. I have spoken about the remarkable achievement with our voters list, which will ensure that the elections this December and every election thereafter can be free and fair; and I have also discussed some of the fundamental institutional reforms that we have undertaken to bolster the foundations of democracy. Many countries around the world are in their own ways going through similar processes, and we hope to share our experiences in order to help them, as we ourselves have benefited from the support of the international community and organizations like the United Nations Development Programme.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“The upcoming conference will provide an important opportunity for LDCs and their partners to review critically past performance, especially in the areas of failures and weak implementation. That will help us develop a new, action-oriented strategic framework for the next decade to assist the LDCs in their development efforts. I call upon Member States to extend full and effective support for the successful holding of the next United Nations conference on the LDCs. Bangladesh is in the midst of a profound change that we believe is also relevant to people all around the world, especially to those fighting poverty, corruption and underdevelopment. As with any process of change, it is not without setbacks and will take time to complete, but in the end we remain confident of our success.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“LDCs continue to face serious structural hurdles in 08-52272 14 their development efforts. They remain acutely susceptible to external economic shocks and natural and man-made disasters. The full and effective implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action has now become an even greater necessity. However, it is unlikely that we will achieve the overarching goals of the Programme of Action and the MDGs, unless international commitment to the LDCs in the areas of aid and trade is fully delivered. The Brussels Programme of Action will conclude in 2010. The General Assembly is in the process of preparing for the fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, to be held towards the end of the current decade.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Once they overcame the shortfall, those countries could return the quantum to the food bank. We could also explore the possibility of determining special drawing rights for each country, using criteria such as population, level of poverty and annual variation in their level of food production. Such an arrangement would allow us to prevent hoarding and price gouging by speculators in anticipation of, and during, a food crisis, and we believe that a mechanism can be put in place to guard against any moral hazard issues that might arise. Since the adoption of the Brussels Programme of Action in 2001, LDCs as a group, have made some progress in their macroeconomic performance and on a few social indicators. The progress is, however, insufficient and uneven. More important, their economic growth has made only a little dent in poverty.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Many of us in the developing world were deeply encouraged when the Secretary-General responded to our urgent request for a high-level task force to address the current food crisis. It was also timely and appropriate that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations convened the High- Level Conference on World Food Security in Rome in June 2008. The Conference afforded us the opportunity to deliberate on systemic and non-systemic issues that exacerbated the current food crisis. Bangladesh, as representative of the least developed countries, also urged the Secretary-General to look into the possibility of creating a global food bank. We suggested that the food bank could allow countries facing a short-term shortfall in production to borrow food grains on preferential terms.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We must have guaranteed access to appropriate mitigation technologies and know-how on affordable terms. We strongly feel that the post-Kyoto agreement should set up a technology transfer board, in order to ensure that the least developed nations have access to affordable, eco-friendly technologies. Bangladesh will not be able to attain sustainable development without appropriate technological support in that regard. We would not have discussed the food crisis issue here in the Assembly, if we had believed that it was a one-off event. The crisis will revisit us, perhaps with greater intensity and frequency, unless we put in place both short- and long-term measures to prevent its recurrence.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“By some estimates, a one-metre sea-level rise would submerge about one third of the total area of Bangladesh. Given our population and its vulnerabilities, that would result in the greatest humanitarian crisis in history. Inaction is simply no longer an option. It is nothing less than a basic moral imperative that countries that have contributed little to this crisis, such as Bangladesh, not be left alone and unsupported to suffer the most from its consequences. Adaptation is necessary, but it may not be sufficient to cope with the unavoidable impacts of climate change. Countries like Bangladesh will face the worst consequences in the absence of a legally binding commitment on mitigation. International efforts to minimize emission levels should not, however, disproportionately tax poorer nations.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Let me reiterate here that my Government is fully committed to holding free and fair parliamentary elections on 18 December 2008, as announced last week. We are confident that all political parties will participate in the elections. Few nations face the challenges that we face in Bangladesh for mere survival. Our development gains, achieved through the work of years and decades, can be wiped out in a matter of hours. One cyclone can push hundreds of thousands of people back below the poverty line. Bangladesh is particularly vulnerable to climate change, given that we are a low-lying delta in one of the highest rainfall regions of the world. There is growing concern that an irreversible climatic shift will displace tens of millions of our people.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We have, in consultation with the political parties, amended and strengthened the Representation of People’s Order, under which forthcoming elections will be held. That law and regulations under it will require the registration of political parties for elections, ensure intra-party democracy and implement campaign finance reforms that will limit the influence of corrupt money in our political system. Just last month, the Bangladesh Election Commission organized the successful holding of some local and mayoral elections. That marked a new beginning in our electoral process, and our citizens were able to exercise their franchise without undue influence of money or muscle power. The elections were held without disruption and drew an unprecedented number of voters.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Our success with the voters list was the result not just of civil-military cooperation, but also international cooperation. We are deeply appreciative of the technical assistance of the United Nations Development Programme for that project and the financial support of our development partners. An election is only the first pillar of democratic governance. During the past 20 months, my Government has relentlessly worked to shore up democracy’s other pillars. We have made the judiciary 13 08-52272 fully independent. My Government has established the National Human Rights Commission to protect and promote the fundamental rights of all our citizens. We have enacted a right to information law, which will help provide the transparency that is necessary to a well-functioning democracy.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Multiple layers of safeguards were put in place to ensure that the new voters list was flawless. In addition to creating a world-class photo voters list, we issued national identity cards to all those who registered. The Election Commission, with the newfound independent authority granted to it by our Government, completed that task in record speed with the support of the Bangladesh army. Our armed services personnel — many of whom have shown their deep and abiding commitment to the ideals of the United Nations through their service in United Nations peacekeeping operations — provided critical logistical support. Their experience, we believe, could be invaluable to supporting and strengthening democracy in post-conflict environments.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“The foundation of a democracy rests on a compact between the State and its citizens. That begins by ensuring that each and every eligible citizen can vote, freely and without fear, and that each and every vote is counted. To that end, my Government has completed the monumental task of electronically registering over 80 million voters with photographs and fingerprints. That was achieved in just 11 months and is a feat that I believe is without precedent anywhere in the world. Our Election Commission trained over 500,000 election workers, deployed over 10,000 laptop computers, webcams and fingerprint scanners and set up over 90,000 registration centres to ensure that every eligible voter could have his or her photograph and fingerprints digitally captured.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“That was no easy task, as decades of corruption had seriously undermined both our democracy and our economy. Corruption’s ill effects corroded our vital public institutions, and the cost was ultimately borne by the ordinary citizens of Bangladesh, who could ill afford it. My Government is determined to ensure that corruption does not imperil the rights of the underprivileged and that, in future, our democracy ensures the good of all Bangladeshis. Our fight against corruption has been the first step in a long and difficult process, and we believe that the work will continue under the auspices of the Independent Anti-Corruption Commission, which was created as an institutional bulwark against corruption. Legal action was initiated against corrupt individuals, but we never compromised due process and judicial independence.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“The cost of food insecurity is measured not only by deprivation, but also by increased instability, which can be very costly for a society. While the free market remains an incomparably powerful tool for the efficient allocation of resources, markets are often imperfect, and no Government can stand idle and hope that the private sector will resolve a food crisis. Making food available to all, and at affordable prices, remains a cardinal responsibility of all Governments. In Bangladesh, we took this responsibility very seriously and delivered rice to our citizens through a public distribution system, in an effort to ensure that no one went to bed hungry. Soon after assuming office in January 2007, our Government announced a road map for holding a truly democratic and meaningful election.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“The recent global rise in food prices has been acutely felt in Bangladesh, even though imports account for a very small percentage of our total cereal consumption. Domestic rice prices spiked by nearly 60 per cent during the year through February 2008, against the backdrop of two devastating floods and a tropical cyclone that destroyed one of our key harvests. For a country like Bangladesh, where roughly 40 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line and where poor households spend as much as 70 per cent of their income on food items, such a steep increase in food prices has had significant adverse effects on food security, poverty alleviation and human development. Food insecurity can disrupt the core of a democratic polity and derail its development priorities.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“These issues are inextricably linked to one another and are of fundamental importance to the welfare of the citizens of Bangladesh as well as other LDCs. We have witnessed during the course of this year an extraordinary rise in food and energy prices, which 08-52272 12 has undermined the food security of many least developed economies. This experience should strengthen our resolve to look for long-term solutions leading to a world free of hunger. In the twenty-first century, food security for all citizens in the world must be acknowledged not just as a development imperative, but as a moral imperative. Each and every human life is sacred, and it is our collective duty to provide adequate food and nutrition to people throughout the world.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Let me begin by congratulating Mr. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann on his well-deserved election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty-third session. I would like to thank Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his very effective leadership in promoting global peace, security and development. I take this opportunity to deliver this statement also on behalf of the least developed countries (LDCs). This has been a difficult year for many LDCs, amid rising food prices and a looming economic slowdown. But we have remained resolute in confronting the crisis in a spirit of mutual understanding, support and cooperation, as enshrined in the United Nations Charter. My statement today will address three interrelated issues: food security, democracy and development.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Let me conclude by reiterating my Government’s unswerving commitment to democracy and the protection of human rights. We have pledged to put Bangladesh on a higher trajectory of good governance, rule of law and development. We are determined to hold a free, fair and meaningful election within the timeframe stipulated by our independent Election Commission and to keep our country firmly on the path of democracy. My Government is fully committed to ensuring that our reform initiatives are comprehensive and irreversible. Bangladeshis now stand united for a prosperous future for their country and the world.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“For many in Bangladesh and other developing countries, temporary labour migration provides a livelihood option and a route out of poverty. If we are to reduce poverty by half by 2015, we must strengthen our efforts to ensure the free movement of labour. The international community is recognizing the critical linkages between migration and development. It is encouraging that the Global Forum on Migration and Development, held in Brussels this July, accorded migration its due priority. We must also intensify our efforts to defend the rights of migrant workers. We would also like to see momentum in the liberalization of Mode IV services. We call for renewed international efforts — at the World Trade Organization and in other forums — to facilitate the free movement of labour services.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“For the least developed countries (LDCs), the trade-to-gross domestic product ratio averages about 58 per cent, while it is roughly 25 per cent for many Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries. These statistics show that the LDCs are far more dependent on trade than their developed counterparts. Bangladesh, along with many other LDCs, is facing significant tariff and non-tariff barriers in accessing developed markets. Global trade regimes must provide unimpeded access to all products of LDCs, so as to ensure that the fruits of progress are shared by all. While representing a nation of 140 million people, squeezed into an area roughly the size of New York State, I must underscore the importance of migration to our development efforts.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“The adverse effects of global warming, deforestation and increased salinity are already evident in Bangladesh. Floods have become an annual calamity, and this year our people have suffered particularly severe losses owing to flooding. While the resilience of our people and the quick mobilization of our limited domestic resources helped us to overcome the crisis this year, we envisage that this may become harder in the future. We therefore urge enhanced international cooperation to meet the challenges of global warming and its consequences. There is a growing acknowledgment that trade liberalization can be an effective tool for economic development.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Keeping in mind that developing countries differ greatly in their political, administrative and social structures, the reform exercise must take this diversity into account and allow individual countries to determine the structure of the United Nations presence at the country level, the representation of different United Nations agencies and their country programmes. We must not undermine the identities of individual United Nations agencies, including their mandates, independence and institutional integrity. Earlier this week, we discussed the exceedingly important issue of climate change. World leaders reaffirmed our shared commitment to address the issue of global warming. Bangladesh is particularly vulnerable to global warming, given that as much as 30 per cent of our land will be submerged if the Bay of Bengal rises by just one metre.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“It is our collective responsibility to make the United Nations more relevant to the present day world, to fulfil the promise Dag Hammarskjöld spoke of when he said, “The day will come when men will see the United Nations and what it means clearly.” The Secretary-General’s report on system-wide coherence presents several useful recommendations in this connection. However, we feel that the reform exercise should focus on the requirements of achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and we recognize that the speed of reform must be gradual. We must reflect upon what is needed by the United Nations, in terms of financial and human resources, to foster development.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We are confident that Bangladesh will continue to play a leadership role in multi- dimensional peacekeeping efforts, and we are ready to provide comprehensive deployment packages in future peace operations. We also remain active in the United Nations peacebuilding endeavours in post-conflict societies. We warmly welcome the Secretary-General’s timely initiative to restructure the Department of Peacekeeping Operations. The world is witnessing a natural evolution from the monitoring of peace to multidimensional tasks of peacebuilding, democratization and development. As one of the largest troop-contributing countries (TCCs), we strongly feel that the TCCs should have equitable representation and play a greater role in deployment and other strategic decisions. The United Nations is in the midst of a continuing evolution.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“This is particularly true for post-conflict and transition societies, where the politics of mistrust is pervasive. We feel that a greater understanding of our challenges and, more importantly, of our efforts to re-build political and social institutions, can serve as benchmarks for others facing similar situations. For example, Bangladesh represents an effective model of civil-military cooperation in crisis prevention. Our experience in crisis management could be relevant for many crisis-torn, nascent democracies. One way in which we can share our experiences in governance is through our robust presence in United Nations peacekeeping operations. We have consistently been one of the top troop-contributing countries in the world, and our peacekeepers have earned accolades for their contributions.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Bangladesh is now a party to all terrorism- related United Nations conventions, a testament to our commitment to fighting terrorism in all its forms. On the domestic front, we have taken stern measures against militant groups and their patrons. In particular, we categorically reject the claims of those who cloak themselves in the rhetoric of Islam to justify terrorism. Bangladesh is steadfast in its commitment to curb religious fundamentalism in all its manifestations. Our experience in re-instilling confidence in the Government has a wider relevance to the international community. The problems that we are facing today are not unique to Bangladesh. After all, in the developing world democracy does not necessarily ensure good governance. Many countries face similar problems of political violence, mis-governance and corruption.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Any society committed to democracy requires the recognition and enforcement of human rights, and in Bangladesh the fight against corruption and the strengthening of the rule of law go hand-in-hand with the protection of human rights. The Caretaker Government has, therefore, taken the decision to establish a national human rights commission to ensure that our laws and public institutions reflect international standards and norms of human rights. It is unfortunate that successive Governments have shied away from taking this important step. Bangladesh remains resolute in its relentless campaign against international extremism and terrorism. We recently acceded to the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We have also revamped the Bangladesh Public Service Commission and the University Grants Commission in order to restore the apolitical nature of those important institutions. Political parties are among the core constituents of democracy. Their accountability and true democratic character remain critically important for democracy to function. In response to demands of the people, the main political parties have themselves initiated various reforms, and the revamped parties will interact with the revitalized institutions of the Government to move our nation forward. Bangladesh reaffirms its unflinching commitment to universal and inalienable human rights.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“One of the most critical elements of a functioning democracy is an independent judiciary. In Bangladesh, the lower judiciary and criminal prosecution were traditionally under the executive branch of the Government, contrary to the constitutional principle of separation of powers. While judicial independence has been part of the political manifesto of successive governments over the past 15 years, each has repeatedly reneged on its public promises in this regard. Recognizing the importance of an independent judiciary to the rule of law, the Caretaker Government within its first month in office initiated the necessary steps to fully separate the executive and judicial branches of the Government.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We have given the Commission broad and sweeping powers — including operational independence — not only to apprehend those who have been corrupt, but also to work as a deterrent. Within a month after coming into office, our Government acceded to the United Nations Convention against Corruption as a clear signal of our unwavering commitment against corruption. The implementation of the Convention will not only contribute to the reduction of corruption in Bangladesh, but will also help us to recover the ill-gotten gains of corruption stored abroad. Those who engage in corruption must confront the reality that there is no safe haven for them. The world is united in the struggle against corruption, and today Bangladesh pledges itself an active partner in that endeavour.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“In Bangladesh, the task of conducting free and fair elections is the responsibility of the Election Commission. The Caretaker Government has already overhauled the Commission, guaranteeing its independence and giving it a broader mandate. The Election Commission, of its own accord, has announced a timeline for the holding of the next parliamentary election by the end of 2008. Our Administration is committed to ensuring that that timeframe is adhered to. We will bring to bear the full resources of the Government in that effort. Our Government has reorganized the Independent Anti-Corruption Commission to ensure that it can effectively lead the fight against corruption.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“As the benefits of winning elections increased, so did the costs of securing victory, creating a truly vicious circle in which corruption became the linchpin. Corruption thus became both the means and the end in terms of winning elections. If our democratic spirit is to emerge unscathed from that downward spiral, and if we are to deliver free, fair and meaningful elections, we must first free our politics from the clutches of corruption and violence. Democracy and the rule of law are not merely concepts; they must be embodied in functioning public institutions. In Bangladesh, the very institutions that form the foundations of democracy have been eroded by ongoing corruption. Rebuilding those institutions and restoring public confidence through meaningful reforms are Herculean tasks, but they are ones in which we cannot and will not fail.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Our task is, first and foremost, to ensure a free and fair election, and we are fully committed to fulfilling that responsibility. However, our nation has learned through harsh experience that an election cannot simply be a one-off casting of votes, but must be part of a dynamic and continuing process whereby people freely choose their leaders. While Bangladesh has held three elections in the past two decades, our democracy has been brutally undermined by ruinous corruption. The lack of systemic institutional safeguards allowed corruption to run rampant. That created a winner-takes-all electoral system, whereby the spoils of electoral victory were so great, and the stakes of winning so high, that the political process became hopelessly polarized, leading to a paralysis even of ordinary governance.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Those who have followed events in Bangladesh over the past few months will know that the Caretaker Government came into office in January this year amid a political stalemate. The fabric of our democracy had been torn apart by years of catastrophic corruption. Widespread frustration with the status quo had led to a rising tide of political violence. That in turn had disrupted ordinary life and shattered all public confidence in the possibility of credible elections. Moreover, there was little hope that a tainted election could end the cycle of violence. A state of emergency was therefore declared on 11 January of this year in an effort to end the ongoing chaos and to usher in a new beginning. As stipulated in our constitution, the non-party Caretaker Government acts as a bridge between two successive political Governments.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“I would like to take this opportunity to express to you, Mr. President, my delegation’s sincerest congratulations on your well- deserved election. A special tribute goes to Her Excellency Sheikha Haya Rashed Al-Khalifa and to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, for their visionary and dedicated leadership. Recent events in Bangladesh have aroused considerable interest worldwide as we struggle to fulfil the promise of democracy for our people. I will take this opportunity to share with the global community some of our recent experiences in consolidating democracy. We have learned that democracy is not an event; it is an ongoing process. It is not just about casting votes and changing Governments; it is also about social justice, accountability and empowerment of the people.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)