Stop arms race, divert funds for poverty alleviation: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday urged the international community to end the arms race and instead spend the money for eradication of poverty and easing the adverse impacts of climate change.

“The money for arms development and competition can be provided to the climate fund for the countries that are now going to be affected by climate changes in order to protect mankind from climate adversities. And the money can also be used on food for the poor children, as well as education and health of the underprivileged children,” she said.

The prime minister was addressing a programme arranged in the city’s Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) to mark the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers 2024 and pay tributes to the fallen peacekeepers and those who suffered injuries while maintaining world peace.

Pointing at the countries that are spending a huge amount of money on arms development and arms race, she said, “We talk about peace. But why do you engage in conflicts?”

Had this money spent for arms race been spent on foods for hungry people, education and medical treatment for the poor, then peace would have beeb established in this world. The living standard of people would have improved and the people could live in a decent manner, said Hasina.

“Conflicts and wars in different parts of the world are disrupting world peace today,” she said citing Russia-Ukraine war, Israel’s genocide in Gaza, the forcibly displaced Rohingya people of Myanmar.

The wars and conflicts have created a dire situation for the mankind, she said.

“As the arms race continues to rise, the lives of people become more and more miserable,” she said, adding that the women and children are suffering the most and young people are losing their lives due to conflicts and wars.

The premier stressed the need for solving problems and disputes through negotiation. “We don't want war, we want peace. We want to solve everything through dialogue. A large number of people in the world still live below the poverty line,” she added.

In the function, three wounded peacekeepers were honoured with awards and the prime minister handed over the awards to them.

The premier unveiled the International Day of UN Peacekeepers Journal-2024 (volume-10).

Currently, 6,092 Bangladeshi UN peacekeepers, including 493 women, are deployed in 13 countries. Among the Bangladeshi peacekeepers, some 4970 members are from Bangladesh Army, 352 members from Bangladesh Navy, 406 members from Bangladesh Air Force and 364 members from Bangladesh Police.

Since its inception, a total of 168 Bangladeshi peacekeepers have been killed in UN peacekeeping missions.