PM'S NEW YORK VISIT
MDG Award hoax, clashes at JFK
Moinuddin Naser in New York
A huge number of entourage accompanied Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her visit to the United Nations without any work. None of the officials can tell you the exact number of delegation. However it was said by a Permanent Mission source that the number will be more than one hundred thirty (130) including business, press, artists, litterateurs and government officials. Besides, at least one dozen relatives of the Prime Minister are also included in the entourage. According to an estimate given by a source in the Foreign Ministry this tour will cost at least 15 crore Taka from the government exchequer without any useful purpose.
The Prime Minister's UN visit began with a scuffle between the supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Awami League (AL) at the JFK airport. At least 10 persons were injured in the clash that ensued just after the arrival of the Prime Minister at the airport.
The security personnel of the airport however brought the situation under control and the airport authority is contemplating to file a case against the party which obtained permission on that day to go to the airport to receive the Prime Minister. The BNP announced the programme of demonstration and shoing black flag to the Prime Minister, but they did not obtain permission from the airport authority and there is no record with the police that BNP supporters were present there.
The security personnel of the airport however brought the situation under control and the airport authority is contemplating to file a case against the party which obtained permission on that day to go to the airport to receive the Prime Minister. The BNP announced the programme of demonstration and shoing black flag to the Prime Minister, but they did not obtain permission from the airport authority and there is no record with the police that BNP supporters were present there.
However, insiders say that in fact two groups of the Awami Laegue -- one group led by the Khalid Hasan and another group led by Sajjadur Rahman Sajjad -- are making preparation to stage another round of face-off before the Prime Minister during her civic reception scheduled for September 26 at a New York hotel. Sajjad is making preparation for the reception while Khalid Hasan in a statement claimed that they took the responsibility of arranging reception forcibly.
What is MDG Award?
It was widely reported in the media in Bangladesh that Prime Minister would receive MDG award. Now question has been raised as to what is the MDG award? The Google web search engine says: "The MDG Awards Committee is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to support the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), to disseminate information on the MDGs to the wider public, and to recognize the contributions of a wide variety of stakeholders in the common cause of reaching the MDGs by the target year of 2015. Although Government Award Recipients are determined in consultation with UN agencies and experts, among others, the MDG Awards are not official awards of the United Nations."
What is MDG Award?
It was widely reported in the media in Bangladesh that Prime Minister would receive MDG award. Now question has been raised as to what is the MDG award? The Google web search engine says: "The MDG Awards Committee is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to support the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), to disseminate information on the MDGs to the wider public, and to recognize the contributions of a wide variety of stakeholders in the common cause of reaching the MDGs by the target year of 2015. Although Government Award Recipients are determined in consultation with UN agencies and experts, among others, the MDG Awards are not official awards of the United Nations."
So the award is in no way given by the United Nations. Rather it was an organization which held the poorly attended award reception at Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York. The reception was held on Sunday evening and it was telecast at the General Assembly Hall of the United Nations, where hardly five to 10 people including the operators of the telecast system of the UN General Assembly hall were present.
Five other Asian and African countries were also awarded the MDG Award by the organisers. They are: Nepal and Cambodia from Asia; Sierra Leone, Liberia and Rwanda from Africa and they were also invited to receive the awards at the function.
Informed sources say that a section of diplomats in the United Nations and in the US missions, who care for their jobs, managed that award from this non-profit organization for their governments.
Nepal's PM didn't come
Nepal was a recipient of the award, but the Nepalese prime minister did not come to receive it. Its permanent representative to the UN, Gyan Chandra Acharya, received the award on behalf of the government while Health Secretary Dr Sudha Sharma was present.
None of the leading Western print or electronic media covered the event and none of the UN officials was present at the function. It was just a hoax and a gimmick of achievement touted by diplomats.
Five other Asian and African countries were also awarded the MDG Award by the organisers. They are: Nepal and Cambodia from Asia; Sierra Leone, Liberia and Rwanda from Africa and they were also invited to receive the awards at the function.
Informed sources say that a section of diplomats in the United Nations and in the US missions, who care for their jobs, managed that award from this non-profit organization for their governments.
Nepal's PM didn't come
Nepal was a recipient of the award, but the Nepalese prime minister did not come to receive it. Its permanent representative to the UN, Gyan Chandra Acharya, received the award on behalf of the government while Health Secretary Dr Sudha Sharma was present.
None of the leading Western print or electronic media covered the event and none of the UN officials was present at the function. It was just a hoax and a gimmick of achievement touted by diplomats.
None of the important head of governments from South Asia, such as India, Pakistan, Nepal or Maldives, attended the UNGA this year. However Bangladesh Permanent Representative at the UN Dr Abdul Momen at a press conference last Saturday said that Monmohan Singh is busy and suddenly cancelled the tour. There are internal problems in Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Maldives. So they could not attend the UNGA this year.
In the meantime Foreign Minister Dipu Moni held bilateral talks with the foreign minister of United Arab Emirates Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and discussed the issues related to 800,000 Bangladeshi workers in UAE.
It may be mentioned that Sheikh Hasina will address UNGA session on next Saturday, September 25.
It may be mentioned that Sheikh Hasina will address UNGA session on next Saturday, September 25.
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