Bangladesh, 1993

At this juncture,

on the eve of the twenty-first century, when the concepts of

democracy, human rights and world-wide cooperation are on

the ascendancy, I stand before this session of the United

Nations General Assembly to share with Members

Bangladesh’s views on the current world situation. I am

here to affirm our commitment to the emerging faith in the

prospects for peace, prosperity and balanced development

throughout the world. In the light of the realities of the

world today, the United Nations is universally accepted as

the most effective platform for multilateralism. I should like

to take this opportunity to reaffirm our unwavering

confidence in the United Nations.

Before proceeding, I should like to extend to

Ambassador Insanally our most cordial greetings on his

election to the presidency of the forty-eighth session of the

United Nations General Assembly. We are confident that

his wisdom and experience will add new dimensions and

dynamism to the activities of the United Nations.

At the same time, we are also grateful to our

Secretary-General, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, for his

20 General Assembly - Forty-eighth session

determined efforts, which have given new vigour to the

activities of this forum. He has been guiding the United

Nations with great dexterity and success through a critical

period of transition. I should like to reiterate our continued

support for his endeavours in fulfilling his important task.

Five new nations have recently joined us in the United

Nations. I welcome them in our midst. We look forward to

working in close cooperation with our new Members:

Andorra, Eritrea, the Czech Republic, Monaco, The Former

Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Slovakia.

An unprecedented rise in democratic aspirations

world-wide precipitated the end of the cold war. There is a

growing optimism about the prospect of a new world

economic order based on equitable distribution of resources

and human rights. Bangladesh is proud to have played a

definite role in the world-wide resurgence of democracy.

About two and a half years ago, we succeeded in

establishing a truly democratic Government following the

elimination of the old autocratic regime, which had lasted

about a decade.

Democracy and development are mutually reinforcing.

Our success on the road to democracy depends largely on

our ability to tackle the challenge of alleviating poverty. We

have many limitations: there is a lack of capital; we lag

behind in technology. Handicapped by resource constraints

as we are, it is not possible for us to undertake this difficult

task alone: we need the cooperation of all.

Today, democracy is universally recognized as the best

political system. Democracy aims at building a prosperous

society by creating avenues for the unstinted development of

human creativity and skill. If the process of development is

disrupted, democracy and stability are threatened. Nurturing

the emerging democratic spirit in the third-world countries

calls for sincere cooperation from the developed

industrialized nations.

Today there exists a yawning gap between the

economies and cultures of the developed countries of the

North and those of the developing countries of the South.

But one must realize that poverty is not the same as

bankruptcy: the South, where Bangladesh belongs, has a

glorious past, when there was economic and cultural

prosperity. We are now engaged in the task of building a

new future based on our culture, tradition and availability of

resources. For us, it is a matter of pride and satisfaction that

our people’s love for freedom has found concrete shape in

the establishment of democracy.

We want to emphasize human creativity and human

capacity to toil. The much-talked-about new concept of a

"human development index" does not seem to be adequate:

we feel that it must capture the indigenous culture and

values of differing civilizations. We believe that a new

dimension will be added to the overall development

framework of the less developed countries if this proposal is

accepted.

Our prime objective is to build a prosperous society and

economy by consolidating national independence,

sovereignty, human rights and democracy. This calls for

guaranteeing the security of small States like ours. As we

work on new equations in international relations, the United

Nations must take effective measures to ensure the security

of small States. The hopes and aspirations of millions of

people are linked to this. We feel that in the new world

order that is taking shape following the end of the cold war,

mutual respect between large and small States should be the

only recognized norm. In order to ensure a future free from

war and conflict, it is imperative that we ensure the

sovereignty of small States.

We believe that the international rule of law has a vital

role to play in ensuring the security of small and weak

States. The priority areas in this context are: a river-water

convention; the law of the sea; environmental protection; and

the status of refugees, economic migrants and displaced

persons. Universal acceptance of the jurisdiction of the

International Court of Justice without reservation has become

an urgent necessity in the pursuit of peace.

We all live on the same planet. World civilization

today and its accumulated store of knowledge is the joint

achievement of all peoples of the world. Everyone has a

claim to an equal share of the world’s resources and

prosperity. The great disparity that exists in the field of

technology must be removed; therefore, we want a free flow

of technology. We feel that the exclusivity of intellectual

property rights is a great hindrance, frustrating the transfer

of technology; we call upon all concerned to refrain from

taking a selfish view in this regard. A similar discriminatory

attitude is also evident with regard to the flow of

information: this is contrary to the concept of a free flow of

information throughout the globe. In order to establish a

well-balanced world community, it is imperative to ensure

the free flow of both information and technology.

Our existence is inseparable from the existence of our

planet, and the existence of our planet is threatened today.

The ecological balance is being disrupted, but the blame is

being conveniently shifted to the developing countries:

Forty-eighth session - 1 October l993 21

unfair conditions regarding the environment are being

imposed on them. In many ways, the industrially developed

countries are mainly responsible for environmental pollution.

Given the resource constraints of the developing countries,

their capacity to pollute the environment is very

insignificant: they are more preoccupied with resolving their

economic problems. We believe that the major

responsibility for the prevention of environmental pollution

lies, therefore, with the developed countries. Those

industrially developed countries that pollute the environment

in catering for their peoples’ demands for high living must

bear the responsibility of mending the damage done.

We are acutely conscious of the need to protect the

environment. We are frugal in our use of fuel, electricity

and water resources. Bangladesh’s industrial sector

contributes only marginally to environmental pollution. Our

jute industry and jute products are more acceptable, in

environmental terms, than various chemical and synthetic

products. However, in the face of the massive expansion of

the use of synthetic fibres that pollute the environment our

jute industry is threatened with extinction. Millions of

people in several countries, including Bangladesh, depend on

the jute industry for their living. Thus, the production of

synthetic fibres must be stopped, in the interests of the

environment as well as of the millions who toil in the jute

sector.

We call upon the donor countries and the aid

organizations, in providing assistance, to pay due attention

to our indigenous initiatives and development programmes.

The success of the development process would thus become

almost impossible. Unrealistic conditions create unnecessary

obstacles in the way of the development process and the

smooth progress of democracy.

In this context, I admit that a State cannot hope to

become self-reliant through external aid and assistance alone.

What we really need is liberalization of trade.

Unfortunately, however, in the field of external trade the

developing countries are being subjected to all sorts of

discrimination by the developed countries. This must give

way to strong and realistic North-South trade links based on

equality. To this end, the immediate and satisfactory

conclusion to the Uruguay Round of negotiations has

become imperative. Together with development assistance,

we seek trade and investment. In Bangladesh we have

created a highly congenial climate for external investment.

Contemporary experience has proved that the desired

development cannot be achieved through dependence on

external assistance alone; it is essential that trade and

investment be expanded at the same time.

We are engaged in an earnest endeavour to achieve

economic prosperity by building upon our indigenous

heritage. We are striving to forge a more productive and

efficient workforce. We have made considerable progress in

the field of structural reform of the economy. Inflation is at

its lowest level. After long years of recession, there has

been a definite increase in the rate of growth in agriculture

and industry.

We have also made considerable progress in the

expansion of education. We have launched the programme

entitled "Food for Education" as a means of ensuring the

right to education of the poorer sections of our population.

We aim to achieve a literacy rate of 60 per cent by the year

2000. We have initiated a national social programme with

a view to restricting the population within a desirable level.

Our efforts have brought us to the threshold of

self-sufficiency in the production of food grains.

In consonance with current world trends, we have also

subscribed to a market economy. As I said earlier, in

economic considerations poverty is the main economic

challenge that we face. In tackling this challenge, we have

adopted a new development model, whose purpose is to

ensure extensive participation by the people in the

development process. We have adopted the "Daal Bhaat"

programme, which envisages the provision of basic nutrition

for the poor and deprived masses and the development of

human resources.

We are expanding sanitation and primary health care

facilities throughout the country. Special priority is being

given to the integration of women in the development

process. In this area, the Grameen Bank, the Rural

Development Board and the Agricultural Bank are making

a commendable contribution.

We must encourage regional cooperation as a

supplement to our efforts in multilateral cooperation.

Against this backdrop, the seven countries of South Asia set

up the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation

(SAARC). As the current Chairperson of SAARC, I am

trying to intensify development cooperation between the

member countries. During the seventh SAARC Summit,

which was held in Dhaka in April this year, we adopted

some specific programmes for poverty alleviation. Besides,

initiatives have also been taken to further promote

cooperation in various fields, including trade, education and

culture.

Along with regional cooperation, we have attached

priority to the development and strengthening of good

22 General Assembly - Forty-eighth session

neighbourly relations and to the resolution of outstanding

bilateral problems with our neighbours. Unfortunately,

however, some issues remain unresolved with our neighbour

India, the most important one being the sharing of water.

We have not yet succeeded in convincing India as to what

is our fair share of water from the rivers that flow through

the two countries. We share 54 rivers. Historically, and

under international law, we have a right - an inherent and

legal right - to the water resources of the common rivers.

But since completion of the Farakka Barrage, India has been

unilaterally drawing Ganges water upstream. Withdrawal of

water during the dry season causes serious drought, while

the release of excess water during the rainy season produces

severe floods in Bangladesh. This has created unimaginable

adverse effects on the economy and environment of

Bangladesh.

The pledges given by India when the Farakka Barrage

was commissioned remain unfulfilled. This unilateral

withdrawal of water, in complete disregard of the interests

of the people of Bangladesh, has brought more than

40 million people in the Ganges basin - or, rather, the

Padma basin - face to face with catastrophe, with disaster.

The Farakka Barrage has become, for us, an issue of

life or death. Owing to obstruction of the natural flow at the

Barrage, a process of desertification is evident throughout

the northern and western parts of Bangladesh. As a result,

vegetation is dwindling, and, in the south, the spreading

salinity threatens industries and agriculture with ruin.

Increased siltation is reducing the navigability of rivers.

Fish and animals will soon be in danger of extinction.

Innumerable people, in various occupations, who depended

on the river Padma for their living are becoming

unemployed. Many are being uprooted from their homes

and hearths.

While the whole world is voicing concern about

protection of the environment, a large proportion of

Bangladesh’s population is being pushed to the threshold of

poverty and destruction. This is nothing but a gross

violation of human rights and justice. To put it simply, our

economic structure is faced with disaster because of the

Farakka Barrage.

India could have played an important role in

strengthening mutual trust between the two countries if it

had lived up to its pledges on the question of water sharing.

We feel that this is still possible. We believe that the world

community sincerely wishes to see Bangladesh succeed in its

struggle to dislodge the burden of poverty that has

accumulated over the ages. But how can we, with our

meagre resources, ever hope to achieve that objective if

man-made obstacles stand in our way? Bangladesh wishes,

therefore, to draw the attention of the world community to

this issue, in the interest of establishing human rights,

protecting the right to natural resources and ensuring the

process of development. Something must be done urgently

to end this inhuman treatment of the people of Bangladesh.

We firmly believe that arrangements must be made to ensure

a fair sharing of the water resources of the Ganges by

signing a permanent agreement immediately.

We believe in the policy of friendship, cooperation and

peaceful coexistence with all countries of the world. We

have unwavering faith in the principle of the resolution of all

problems with all countries, and particularly with our

neighbours, through peaceful negotiations. Congenial

conditions have been created for the return of the tribal

refugees who left their homes in the Chittagong Hill

districts and have been in India for a long time. This

became possible following a bilateral understanding that was

reached with India last May.

Despite obvious economic, social and environmental

difficulties, Bangladesh has given shelter to 250,000 refugees

from Myanmar. Bangladesh has not sent back even one

single refugee by force. I am happy to report that after

constructive negotiations with all parties concerned,

including Myanmar and the Office of the United Nations

High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), a congenial

atmosphere has been created for the safe and voluntary

repatriation of the refugees. We hope this will lead to a

permanent solution of the problem.

Our hopes for a new, peaceful international order were

raised following the end of the cold war. But these hopes

seem to be fading in the face of current realities. The forces

of communalism, racialism and regional hegemony are

raising their heads in different regions of the world. As a

result, mankind is threatened. The blatant violation of the

national and human rights of the Bosnian Muslims at the

hands of the armed Serbian aggressors is a matter of great

shame for the whole of mankind. The oppression and

genocide unleashed by the Serbs against unarmed civilians

in the name of the abhorrent policy of "ethnic cleansing" is

a source of agony for all people of conscience. The

unabated perpetration of this genocide naturally focuses

attention on the unequal application of the concept of human

rights. A nation and its existence as a State are being

obliterated solely because of religious hatred. The double

standard of supplying arms to the Serbs and the Croats while

the Muslims remain unarmed is tantamount to violation of

human rights. In the interest of establishing human rights

Forty-eighth session - 1 October l993 23

and justice, we call upon the United Nations and all the

powerful States of the world to take definite steps to

preserve the independence and sovereignty of the people of

Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Bangladesh has always hoped for world peace and

prosperity. Active participation in United Nations

peace-keeping efforts has been a priority for us. Some of

the significant examples of such participation are the

monitoring of elections in Namibia, policing the cease-fire

line in the Gulf, clearing mines and contributing to

reconstruction efforts in Kuwait and assisting the United

Nations peace efforts in Cambodia, Somalia and

Mozambique. We strongly support the strengthening of the

financial and institutional base of peace-keeping and its

growth. We are concerned at the observation on the

financial crisis of the world body made by the

Secretary-General in his report. We urge the affluent

Member States to come forward and assist in overcoming

the crisis to keep the United Nations strong and effective.

The recent historic accord between the Palestine

Liberation Organization (PLO) and Israel is a positive first

step towards the establishment of a long-waited peace in the

Middle East. We welcome this initiative. We hope that

Israeli withdrawal from all occupied Arab territories,

including Jerusalem, and the establishment of an independent

Palestinian State will be the final objective of these efforts.

We remain steadfast in our support for the struggle of

the people of South Africa to achieve their cherished goal of

equal rights and majority rule. In response to the appeal

made here in the Assembly by Nelson Mandela, our

Government is moving towards lifting economic sanctions

against South Africa.

Vicious cycles of starvation and violence, a breakdown

of central authority and endless conflicts continue to bedevil

in varying ways the situations in Somalia, Angola, Liberia,

Rwanda and Mozambique. We call upon the United Nations

to take comprehensive measures to establish peace in these

areas in a more effective manner.

Thirteen years ago, during a similar session of this

forum, Bangladesh’s great leader and a champion of the

interests of the third world, the late President Ziaur Rahman,

issued a clarion call:

"We must face the challenge of the contemporary

world. The need of the hour is for bold and

imaginative action. We will not find solutions if we

cling to outdated concepts and institutions. We must

act in concert and work for a better and nobler life for

all sectors of the family of mankind." (Official Records

of the General Assembly, Eleventh Special Session, 3rd

plenary meeting, para. 46)

His words are all the more significant today.

We are poised at a critical juncture in the advancement

of world peace and stability. No doubt violence, aggression,

racism, ethnic and religious conflict and gaping social and

economic disparities still exist. Despite these contradictions,

there is today a greater confidence and conviction that a

brave new world is truly within our reach. We are faced

with a rare opportunity to sustain the momentum towards the

peaceful resolution of conflicts, to strengthen the rule of law

and to raise the quality of life in greater freedom.

Democratic values, the human spirit, human solidarity and

the appropriate realization of human development are central

to achieving these objectives. Today, as we approach the

end of the twentieth century, we look forward to a balanced,

tolerant and happy world community where democracy,

peace, development and human welfare will be equally

available to all. This was really the driving force behind the

establishment of the United Nations. We have spent half a

century in pursuit of this goal. As we enter the coming

century, this must not remain a mere dream. Let this be our

pledge to the next generation.