Former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, in her first address to the United Nations General Assembly in 1993, highlighted Bangladesh’s commitment to democracy and development while calling for greater international cooperation, protection of small states and a fairer global economic order.
Addressing the 48th session of the UNGA on October 1, 1993, Khaleda Zia said democracy and development were mutually reinforcing and stressed that Bangladesh’s democratic progress depended largely on its ability to reduce poverty.
She said Bangladesh could not undertake its development efforts alone because of limited resources and technological backwardness, and called for greater cooperation from developed countries.
Khaleda Zia linked Bangladesh’s development goals with human rights, national sovereignty and the security of small states. She called for mutual respect between large and small countries and said international law should play a stronger role in protecting smaller and weaker states.
She also called for the free flow of technology and information, arguing that the technological gap between developed and developing countries was a major obstacle to balanced global development.
Environmental protection was another major focus of her speech. She argued that industrialised countries bore greater responsibility for global pollution and should contribute more to addressing environmental damage. She also highlighted Bangladesh’s jute industry and its importance to the environment and the livelihoods of millions.
On economic development, Khaleda Zia called for greater trade and investment alongside development assistance. She urged developed countries to remove discriminatory trade practices and strengthen trade relations between developed and developing nations.
She also outlined Bangladesh’s domestic development efforts, including economic reforms, agricultural and industrial development, education, food security, sanitation and primary healthcare. She highlighted programmes such as Food for Education and Daal Bhaat and stressed the importance of greater participation of women in development.
As the then Chairperson of SAARC, Khaleda Zia stressed the importance of regional cooperation and referred to initiatives adopted at the seventh SAARC Summit in Dhaka for poverty alleviation, trade, education and cultural cooperation.
A major part of her address focused on Bangladesh’s water-sharing dispute with India, particularly the Ganges. She said Bangladesh shared 54 rivers with India and described the country’s right to the waters of common rivers as an “inherent and legal right.”
She criticised the unilateral withdrawal of Ganges water upstream of the Farakka Barrage during the dry season, saying reduced water flow affected agriculture, navigation, livelihoods and the environment. She called for an urgent permanent agreement on fair sharing of the Ganges waters.
Khaleda Zia also reaffirmed Bangladesh’s policy of friendship, cooperation and peaceful coexistence with all countries and called for outstanding issues with neighbouring countries to be resolved through peaceful negotiations.
She referred to Bangladesh’s efforts to facilitate the return of tribal refugees from the Chittagong Hill districts and its cooperation with Myanmar and UNHCR to create conditions for the safe and voluntary repatriation of refugees from Myanmar.
On international conflicts, she condemned violence and ethnic persecution in Bosnia and Herzegovina and called for stronger international efforts to protect the independence and sovereignty of the Bosnian people.
She also highlighted Bangladesh’s contribution to UN peacekeeping operations and called on wealthy member states to help address the UN’s financial crisis and strengthen its peacekeeping capacity.
Khaleda Zia welcomed the then-recent agreement between the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel as a positive step towards peace in the Middle East and reaffirmed Bangladesh’s support for the Palestinian people’s right to an independent state.
Towards the end of her speech, she recalled the address delivered by her husband, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, at the UN General Assembly’s Eleventh Special Session in 1980. She said his call for concerted international efforts to improve the lives of people remained relevant.
She concluded by calling for stronger rule of law, peaceful resolution of conflicts and improved human welfare, envisioning a world where democracy, peace, development and human welfare would be available to all.
The speech has gained renewed attention as Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to address the 81st UNGA session in New York on September 24, becoming the third member of his family to address the General Assembly.
Ziaur Rahman addressed the UN General Assembly on August 26, 1980, while Khaleda Zia delivered her first address on October 1, 1993. UN records confirm her speech at the 13th plenary meeting of the 48th session.
According to Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam, Tarique Rahman’s upcoming address will focus on Bangladesh’s democratic transformation, rule of law and accountability, global peace and security, climate change, sustainable development and economic cooperation, among other issues.
