Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres has invited Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to join the Champions’ Group of Global Crisis Response on Food, Energy and Finance (GCRG).

He made the invitation during a 12-minute phone conversation between the two leaders this evening, according to a press release signed by PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim.

The Prime Minister thanked the UNSG for inviting her to join the GCRG, before accepting it warmly and expressing her deep satisfaction at seeing the presidents of Indonesia and Senegal, as well as her fellow prime ministers from Barbados and Denmark, on board the same platform.

Prime Minister Hasina expressed confidence to fulfil the vision of the group, as she looks forward to working closely  with other leaders.

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She briefed the UNSG the aftermath of ongoing war in Ukraine as well as the pandemic situation, which have led to a worsening situation in many sectors from food to fuel prices, and engulfing the financial system.

Prime Minister Hasina appreciated the leadership role of the UN in forming such a global crisis management group that focuses on food, energy and the financial system as well, to  try and ensure the poor and the vulnerable across the world would remain safe.

She reiterated her commitment to responding to the call of the UN to contribute to global peace, stability and development.

She also reiterated Bangladesh’s partnership to the UN in the areas of Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding, SDG implementation, climate action and gender equality.

She expressed her readiness to engage in high level dialogue, advocacy and outreach to fulfil the objectives of the group.

At the end, UNSG Guterres requested Prime Minister Hasina to nominate a Sherpa (Representative) to represent Bangladesh in this group, as well as to carry out its endeavour under the mandate of the United Nation.