United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has informed the Group of Seven (G7), a political forum comprising the world’s seven largest advanced economies, about Bangladesh’s ability to produce Covid-19 vaccines at their recent summit. The UN chief disclosed this information to Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen in response to the latter’s request for UN initiatives to ensure vaccine accessibility for all.

“The UN has a special relation with Bangladesh,” said Guterres, before praising Bangladesh’s strong leadership role in all areas of UN activities, especially in peacekeeping, climate change and women empowerment.

Commending Guterres’s leadership in the UN, Dr. Momen thanked the UN chief for declaring Covid-19 vaccines as “global public goods”, Dhaka Tribune reported.

The foreign minister expressed his appreciation for the UN secretary general’s continued attention to the Rohingya issue.

Referring to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s humanitarian gesture in providing shelter to Rohingyas, Guterres thanked Bangladesh for hosting the displaced minorities from Myanmar.

“The world will not forget Bangladesh’s generosity in hosting the largest refugee camps of the world,” he added.

(SAM)