UN chief phones PM to join GCRG

Secretary General (SG) of the United Nations António Guterres Tuestday night phoned Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and invited  her to join the Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy and Finance (GCRG).

In reply to the invitation, the Prime Minister thanked the UN Secretary General and  gave her consent to join the GCRG during talks between the two leaders that lasted for 12 minutes, according to a press release signed by PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim.

"She (Sheikh Hasina) accepted his  invitation with great happiness," the release said.

António Guterres released the initial recommendations of his GCRG on Tuesday, set up in response to the hunger crisis triggered by the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

Russia and Ukraine represent more than half of the world’s supply of sunflower oil and about 30 percent of the world’s wheat. Ukraine alone provides more than half of the World Food Programme’s (WFP) wheat supply.

The war has resulted in disrupting supply chains and rising prices - not just of food, but also fuel and fertilizer.

Sheikh Hasina expressed her deep satisfaction on the President of Indonesia and Senegal and the Prime Minister of Barbados and Denmark for joining the same platform, the release said.

The prime minister expressed confidence to fulfill the vision of the group as she looks forward to closely work with other leaders, it added.

She briefed the UN SG the aftermath of ongoing war in Ukraine as well as the pandemic situation which led to a worsening situation in many sectors from food to fuel price in manifolds including the financial system, the release also said.

The prime minister appreciated the leadership role of the UN in forming such a global crisis managing group that focuses on food, energy and financial system where the poor and the vulnerable across the world would remain safe, it continued.

Sheikh Hasina reiterated her commitment to responding the call of UN to contribute to global peace, stability and development.

She also recalled Bangladesh’s partnership to the UN in the areas of Peace Keeping and Peace Building, SDG implementation, climate action and gender equality.

The premier expressed her readiness to engage in high level dialogue, advocacy and outreach to fulfill the objectives of the group.

At the end, UN SG requested Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to nominate a Sherpa (Representative) to represent Bangladesh in this group as well as to carry out its endeavour under the mandate of the United Nations.