PM shares climate woes with Obama

US president accepts her invitation to visit Bangladesh
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met US President Barack Obama and exchanged views on the adverse impacts of climate change on developing countries in a major event on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session.
This was the first encounter of the new Bangladesh premier with the new US president.
It took place during a meeting with the heads of state and government of 25 selected countries at the UN Conference Building over a private working dinner Tuesday night.
UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon hosted the meeting to discuss the climate change issue, a most pressing problem currently facing nations across the globe following excessive carbon emissions from the developed world.
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni told UNB that the Prime Minister Hasina and President Obama sat beside each other and exchanged views “in a very cordial atmosphere”.
The PM, during the discourse, invited President Obama to visit Bangladesh. He accepted the invitation.
Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dr Momen said the American president did the honours like host to the Bangladesh PM.
“President Obama was so cordial that he poured water into the prime minister’s glass,” he said.
He said the PM put forward five-point demand for tackling the adverse effects of the climate change through effective ways of adaptation and mitigation. She also mentioned the necessity of food security.
Hasina apprised the meeting of select world leaders of various steps that Bangladesh has undertaken to face the climate change and ensure the pace of development.
“But that’s not enough,” she told the meeting.
The premier also stressed the need for financial and technological assistance from the rich nations.
As the general debate at the UN General Assembly began Wednesday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina attended the opening session of the annual meet of the highest global forum at the UN Headquarters.
An unprecedented security blanket was thrown around the UN Headquarters as the 64th UNGA session began.
US helicopters hovered over the assembly house while scores of security cars patrolled the first avenue where the UN Headquarters is located.
All streets around the UN Headquarters were closed to traffic. US security agencies, including the FBI and the NY police, in combat dress were guarding the UN building and its adjoining streets.
US combat troops took position on the rooftop of the marble coloured plenary session building as US President Barack Obama delivered his speech in the UNGA session.
Brazil is the first speaker followed by the United States in the 64th UNGA session. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will deliver her speech on September 26 highlighting the fallouts of the global warming and financial crisis on developing nations, including Bangladesh.
She would seek assistance from the rich economies for handling the situation stemming from a phenomenal climate change being caused by the global warming due to greenhouse gas emissions.
Hasina will also speak out the need for food security as well as spell out her “vision 2021″ aimed at upgrading Bangladesh to a digital nation with the support of its friends and development partners.
The Prime Minister in her speech is expected to tell the world body about the democratic transition in Bangladesh through “the freest and fairest general election held last year and her government commitment to democracy, human rights and the rule of law”.

Courtesy of Unb, New York