Dhaka to raise S Asia’s suffering at Copenhagen climate meet: Hasina

Thimpu, Bhutan: Bangladesh will prominently raise the issue of suffering of South Asian countries including Bangladesh caused by global warming in the upcoming Copenhagen Climate Change Meet.

The prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, said this when she had an audience with former king of Bhutan Jigme Singye Wangchuk at his palace in Thimpu Sunday morning on the third day of her four-day official visit to the Himalayan state.

‘Bangladesh and many other South Asian countries are badly affected due to the climate change and I will raise the issue in next month’s Copenhagen meet,’ she said.

Hasina stressed that both the neighbours had to work together to face the challenges of climate change as they were becoming the most vulnerable countries to the calamity, said prime minister’s deputy press secretary Nazrul Islam briefing newsmen after the meeting.

During the meeting, they discussed wide ranging issues including expansion of trade and business between the two countries and the negative impact of the climate change for which the developing countries are badly affected.

Expressing her sincere thanks to the former Bhutanese king for transforming monarchy into democracy in running the country, Hasina said the multiparty democracy would get an institutional shape in the country following the king’s decision.

She also thanked the king and people of Bhutan for according her warm royal reception and for their hospitality during her stay in the country.

Wangchuk recalled her visit to Bangladesh in 1972 and said he had a very close relationship with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family and that he wanted to maintain the same relationship in future.

The former Bhutanese king lauded the able leadership of Hasina and expressed the hope that the progress of the country would be further expedited under her prudent leadership.

The former Bhutanese king said he did not go for democracy all of a sudden. It has taken at least 20 years, he added.

Earlier on her arrival at the palace, the prime minister was given a warm reception at the gate.

Among others, industries minister Dilip Barua, commerce minister Faruk Khan, adviser to the prime minister HT Imam and ambassador M Ziauddin were present.