Online Desk: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been greeted on her reelection by a number of world leaders attending this year’s Munich Security Conference (MSC).

“Presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has hugely attracted world leaders. They greeted her (on reelection as prime minister) and she has become the centre of attention at the MSC,” said Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud while briefing the reporters about the PM’s busy first day at the conference.

He said the prime minister spent a busy day as she attended seven bilateral meetings and a panel discussion of the MSC .

During meetings with Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Qatar Premier Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Sheikh Hasina discussed issues of Palestine and Rohingya as well as bilateral aspects.

She also had a meeting with Director General (DG) of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

At the meeting, the WHO Director General greeted Sheikh Hasina’s daughter Saima Wazed for her election as WHO Regional Director, adding that she has been working with great enthusiasm.

Sheikh Hasina attended the panel discussion titled “From Pocket to Planet: Scaling Up Climate Finance”.

She also held talks with President of Global Affairs at Meta and former deputy prime minister of the UK, Sir Nick Clegg, and World Bank Senior Managing Director for Development Policy and Partnership Axel Van Tortsenburge.

The World Bank has committed US$16 billion in 56 ongoing projects. The World Bank has pledged US$509 million in budgetary support to Bangladesh. In addition, the World Bank has recently pledged US$ 700 million for Rohingya and poor people.
The foreign minister said the PM called on the World Bank to quickly disburse budgetary support. She hanked the World Bank for financing various projects in Bangladesh.

Moreover, President of the Women Political Leaders Silvana Koch-Mehrin paid a visit to the Bangladesh leader at her place of residence.

The foreign minister and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, among others, were present at the meetings.

The Munich Security Conference 2024 is being held in German city Munich from February 16 to 18 to have high-level debates on the world’s most pressing security challenges.