Make world livable for present, future generations: Dhaka to global community

Bangladesh has urged the global community re-commit to using their resources for realising sustainable development goals (SDGs), and making the world safe and livable for present and future generations.

"Total elimination of nuclear weapons is a long overdue commitment. On this momentous 75th anniversary of the United Nations, let us re-commit....," said Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen.

He made the call at the high-level plenary meeting of the UN General Assembly in New York, held virtually on Friday to commemorate and promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.

Dr Momen said the pandemic has made it a rallying call more than ever before.

"Mass awareness and global advocacy need to be promoted and accelerated through effective partnership, including with civil society organisations," he said.

The foreign minister flagged few points, saying Bangladesh steadfastly supports the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons.

He said nuclear weapons themselves are the problems and as the former Secretary-General of UN Ban ki Moon stated, "There are no right hands to handle these wrong weapons."

Secondly, Dr Momen said nuclear-armed states need to take concrete steps to cease arms races and get rid of the risk of nuclear weapons falling in the hands of the wrong people.

In his third point, the foreign minister said nuclear-weapon-free-zones need to be established in all parts of the world through ratification by the nuclear weapons states -- they must alsoratify the related protocols to all treaties in establishing such zones.

While sharing his fourth point, Dr Momen said, the potential of nuclear technology for the benefit of humankind and inalienable rights of states for research, production and peaceful use of nuclear energy, without discrimination, must be fostered through effective international cooperation.

He said the United Nations was created from the ashes of the Second World War.

The devastation and human suffering caused by the nuclear bombing of Japan shook the world and the collective conscience of humankind, he said, adding that the UN, in its very first resolution, envisioned a world free of nuclear weapons.

Dr Momen said 75 years have passed, yet present and future generations continue to live under the threat of nuclear catastrophe.

And now, he said, the Covid-19 pandemic has presented the long-established truth in a more glaring way that stockpiles of weapons fail to save human beings.

The foreign minister said investment in nuclear weapons therefore cannot ensure peace and security.

"It is rather through the realisation of sustainable development goals that we can establish and sustain peace and stability."

He said the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in his historic speech before the UNGA in 1974, appealed to spare the world from the scourge of nuclear war. "This forms the cornerstone of Bangladesh's steadfast commitment and adherence to nuclear disarmament."

Dr Momen said, "We are also among the 44 countries that have ratified the Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons."

He said nuclear technology has been recognised as capable of both tremendous benefit and equally unimaginable destruction.

Bound by constitutional obligation to disarmament, Dr Momen said Bangladesh rejects the use of nuclear technology for destructive purpose and supports its peaceful application for development and welfare of humankind.

"To harness the benefit of nuclear technology, Bangladesh is building nuclear power plants for peaceful use," he said.

Volkan Bozkir, General Assembly President, among others, spoke at the event.