 Welcome again everyone to another plenary session of the ninth annual international conference on sustainable development. We are extremely excited about this session, the crown jewel if you will of the day. It is our great honor and deep pleasure to be hosting the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, and I will turn it over to Professor sacks to do the honors of introducing her. Lauren, thank you very much. And indeed, Prime Minister. Thank you so much for joining the international conference on sustainable development. We really are greatly honored to be together with you. And we want to wish Bangladesh a happy 50th birthday. First of all, this is a celebratory year. Even though we're in the midst of a big crisis globally, everywhere. We still want to celebrate Bangladesh's achievements. Another one of the things that makes us so excited to be together and we want to hear from you is the fact that when we analyze as the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network does each year. As we progress towards the sustainable development goals. Bangladesh came first in the world in most progress between 2015 and 2020. So we want to congratulate you for that achievement, as well as wish Bangladesh a happy birthday. And I want to point out for listeners, as we welcome you, if you look at the, the facts of Bangladesh's progress in development, they really are wonderful and striking back in 1981 literacy was 29% of the adult population. In 1998, the completion at the lower secondary school was 50% now 88% electrification was only 14% of the population in 1991. Now electricity access is 92%. And one that is a especially clear indicator of the great strides of well being the mortality rate for children under the age of five at independence was 222 children dying before their fifth birthday of every 1000 births. By 1991 that had declined to 138 per thousand still high by 2019, the mortality rate for under fives was down to 31. So this is a seven fold reduction, which is a tremendous accomplishment. So Prime Minister, thank you so much for being with us. Let me remind all of the many participants that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is in her fourth time as Prime Minister. From 1996 to 2001 2009 to 2013 2014 to 2018. And since December 30, 2018, when she won the election at the end of 2018 is Prime Minister until today. And in between leader of the opposition in three parliaments so you have been in the leadership of your country during this time of tremendous progress so we want to give you personal congratulations as well. And I would like to turn the microphone over to you, Prime Minister, and I hope that you can share some lessons of Bangladesh's progress because this is of interest for all of the world. Thank you again for being with us. Thank you very much. Thank you, Professor Jeffrey Sacks, giving me this opportunity so all of me and my people of Bangladesh. I also thank the Earth Institute, Columbia University global masters of development practice, and even sustainable development. The solutions network for inviting me to the nine ninth annual international conference on sustainable development. There's always a pleasure to be among students, academies and enlightened people. Distinguished participants, ladies and gentlemen, the COVID-19 pandemic has upset the world. It has taken countless lives to upset livelihoods. Millions of people worldwide have been reduced to poverty and hunger. Education is facing huge disruption, especially of children. Climate vulnerable countries like Bangladesh are adversely affected by the pandemic, as well as natural disasters. Development gains and his disease progress have been badly hit. In fact, of this turmoil, I thank you for the opportunity to share our experiences and my perspectives on how to build forward better and to get back on track to achieve the 2030 agenda and the Paris climate agreement. On this makeup, my association with the global development discourse is more than two decades. I led Bangladesh in the Millennium Development Summit in 2000. In the adaptation of the landmark 2030 agenda and the Paris climate agreement in 2015. Our achievements as MDs were highly significant. We are recognized by the international community as a development miracle for our success, especially in poverty reduction, food security, gender parity in primary and secondary school, decreasing infant and maternal mortality rate, gender equality, etc. Over the past one decade, our poverty rate came down to 20.5. Actually it was 31.5%. Now it is 20.5. And our per capita income multiplied more than threefold. The infant mortality rate was reduced to 23.67 per 1000 maternity mortality rate to 173 per 1000 live births and longevity of life rose to 73 years. We have set up more than 18,000 community clinics and health care to cater healthcare services, mainly to women and children. According to WEF and political empowerment of women, Bangladesh is ranked seventh ahead of its regional neighbors since 2014. Get emphasis has been laid on female education. The girls education up to 12th grade has been made free. Every school students are supported by stipend stipend money reaches to mothers or legitimate guardians directly throw their mobile phone about 23 million students have been brought under stipend and scholarship. We have established 20 new public technological and general universities in the country raising the total number of public universities to 52 research as many as 105 private universities are offering higher education in the country. Female male school enrollment ratio rose to 53 is 247 in 2017 from 35 to 65 in 2009. Now you perhaps you have noticed that now girls are more than boys. Now we are trying to bring more boys to the school and looking forward to why the boys are reducing enrollment in pre primary and primary level rose to 99%. Increasing female education has significantly lowered in the rate of child marriage free books in distributed among students up to secondary level from primary pre primary to secondary level since 2010. School launches have launches have also been arranged. As a result, dropouts have drastically decreased. Our education journey builds on this success. Because I believe that education is the main key to reduce poverty. That's why we give more importance to education vocational education, technical education, etc. Bangladesh is the pioneer in climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts. We have recently submitted and ambitious and updated and they see we have adapted the music climate prosperity plan focusing on green gold resilient infrastructure and renewable energy. According to sustainable development reports 2021 published by the University of Cambridge Bangladesh has improved the most on the SDC index since 2015 Bangladesh is now among the five fastest growing economies in the world. But first in the terms of GDP, the even the commanded Bangladesh to graduate from LDC category this year. Our graduation comes at a time when we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of our independence and the birth centenary of our father of the nation, Bongo Bando Sheikh Majib Ramon. And his leadership we achieve our independence. I believe that there is no better way to pay tribute to our father of the nation and millions of our freedom fighters. We are on track to fulfill the dream of a father of the nation to build a sonar Bangla or golden Bengal hunger free society hunger free country hunger and poverty free country. It was his dream. Since 2015, we have been working hard to integrate agenda 2030 into our national plans and policies, putting whole up government approach, a high level national committee was formed for the implementation and monitoring of the as disease. We have already submitted to be an RS in 2017 and 2020 we have done sector specific assessments and integrated as disease in our eight five year plan. Second perspective plan has also been aligned with the as disease, because I believe that without proper plan, we cannot make any achievement. We have adapted short term program midterm program and long term program it invasions transforming Bangladesh into an upper middle income country by 2031 and a high income country by 2041. The delta plan 2000 hundred captured the as disease vision and beyond. It aims to create a prosperous and climate resilient delta for our future generation. Future generations must get a better life. That is our aim. We have taken up a coordinated effort involving the government, the private sector, the civil society and other stakeholders to ensure whole of society engagement to reach people who are further is behind we have put additional focus on localizing as disease. This serves as a data to monitor real time progress of our as disease. Finally, in our infrastructure capacity. We are launching mega infrastructure projects like, but my breeze Dhaka material, carnival, eternal and root for nuclear power plant. We may have been many streamed in national development and economic activities, and they are now the backbone of certain vital sectors such as RNG. In digitization and connectivity has spurred the digital economy, youth lead innovation and transformative social economic changes. This is now also helping us tackle the COVID-19 pandemic better. We have a huge youth population. We have invested heavily in their education and skills development to help them with the maximum benefit of the digital economy and technological innovation. Dear participants, ladies and gentlemen, the 2030 agenda is a global compact. This is our blueprint for a sustainable and inclusive global development. No single country can achieve this agenda alone. We need enhanced global collaboration and solidarity to advance this agenda. We have already entered the decade of delivery and action of the agenda. Yet the goal seems far away. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries were off track to achieve this disease. The pandemic has pushed them further behind. We need to chart out a bold and ambitious global roadmap to put us back on the SDZ stock so that no one is left behind. Let me share a few specific points in this regard. First, the success of SDZ now depends on sustainable recovery from the pandemic. The call of the hour and with real urgency is it ensure vaccines for everyone everywhere is to ensure vaccines for everyone everywhere. There are many poor countries, they cannot buy vaccines so it should make available to them. Developed countries and rich countries can come forward. Second, we must close the use resource gap in the implementation of the 2030 agenda. Third, we are concerned about the rising trend in global poverty. For the first time since 1998, due to the impact of the pandemic, our recovery efforts need more focus on job creation, social protection, women empowerment, and science, technology and innovation. Fourth, we believe that COVID-19 recovery measures should complement climate actions to create stronger resilience against any future shock or calamities. Finally, there must be more focus on enhanced monitoring and support mechanism for SDZ implementation. The UN should have enhanced coordination in this regard. It is also imperative to ensure that there are adequate and timely support measures to withstand emergencies and shocks to avoid any slight back. Third, we have preparedness for the pandemic and other emergencies should be done with priority at every level. I shall list it here. I'm happy to respond to any questions you may have. Thank you all for your kind attention. Prime Minister, thank you so much for your wise words and also for illuminating the deep sources of Bangladesh's success. And I'd like all of us to take note of several things that you said that I think are really key. You put education at the center of the economic development. I think that this is exactly right. And a very powerful message. I note, by the way, that Bangladesh in the most recent data, as I mentioned in the year 2018, has a lower secondary school completion rate of 88%. Pakistan, by contrast, is only half of that 48%. You've really put the kids in school. And I think it must be also the magic touch that you have really emphasized the girls education, because this is absolutely essential. And you also notice now the issue is getting the boys in school. We have the same issue in the United States, interestingly, there's a huge gap. At the university level, young women are outnumbering the young men by quite a margin and it's rising. Girls are probably just better, I think is the truth. I know we have to help the boys too, but I think your message is really powerful on this. And I wasn't sure that, but I think that that is probably number one key to your success. You mentioned the plan, which I also subscribe to because we need planning. We need the government to be able to look ahead, not a week or a month or the next to vote, but a plan that is systematic for public investment for building infrastructure for educating children for building the clinics that you talked about the thousands of clinics around the country. Third point you mentioned, of course, was the embrace of the whole sustainable development agenda. So you put a high level task force to work on the SDGs, right from the start. But also, Prime Minister, it's very gratifying to hear from you the focus on future generations because this is the vision of really investing in the future. I think you gave us a lot of powerful insights into Bangladesh is very rapid, very impressive, and very inspiring progress. You also mentioned several challenges for the world, which I want to make sure people hear and that your voice is well heard this week at the UN one is vaccination for all. It has just been grossly unfair, inequitable and dangerous. How countries have been left out and left behind of the vaccine access. President Biden is hosting a vaccine summit on Wednesday, but I want to make sure that all of the vaccine producing countries. The US, EU, UK, China, India, Russia are there, all cooperating and all giving the leadership to the UN, which could get this job done. But so far hasn't been able to get vaccines, because the companies are giving them to the rich countries, the rich countries are standing in front of the queue. And even the UN can't buy them, because the rich countries have export quotas. So Wednesday, I'm hoping for a big breakthrough. And I think your voice is very powerful for that vaccines for all no more delay and empower the UN to do its job, which it can do. Second point you mentioned dear to my heart is finance resources need to flow to Bangladesh to other countries that are have the way to get high returns on investment, but then can't get access to capital. And so we need to make sure that you have an expanded access to financial flows on good favorable terms. Third you emphasized empowering the poor empowering women and empowering excluded groups and delay no lose no time in that empowerment right now, especially in the midst of our current crisis. And fourth is the need for climate action. And Bangladesh with all the successes is vulnerable, because of what the rest of the world is doing the rising sea levels for a country that is a low line Delta country. We need action in the whole world. And I really thank you for your strong voice in that. Finally, I want to underscore this very impressive timing that by 2031 Bangladesh. Aspires to be an upper middle income country. And in 2041, a high income country. We're going to give you all support for that. Those are bold and impressive and achievable goals and please count on all of us listening and the sustainable solutions network to be supporting you in that and Prime Minister I we we made an award, which you will get in in person. But right now I will just show it online. This is an award presented to Bangladesh for the Prime Minister for the largest increase in the sustainable development goal index score between 2015 and 2020. This is great progress. You're running the fastest race. We are really thrilled. And you have your, your copy there. We're really honored to be delivering this for the people of Bangladesh and thank you for your leadership for the SDGs. Thank you very much. All the comments you made. Really very, very encouraging. Professor sex distinguished participant I'm deeply honored to accept this award on behalf of the people of Bangladesh. I'd like to thank ICSD for honoring the people of Bangladesh by this award. This is a testimony of our endeavors engaged in achieving as disease, leaving no one behind is a key part of the SDGs will continue our efforts in the March towers progress and prosperity so that no one is left behind. I dedicate this award to my country man. Our people with the help of them we achieve our independence as well as whatever I have done is only their support as you know that I have lost. My younger sister, whole family. My father was the president of Bangladesh, including my mother, my three brothers to sister in laws, my uncle's all, I mean, almost 18 members of my family was assassinated in 1975. And my sister and myself, we were abroad that time we are in Germany so we survived. We could come back to our country for long time for six years, because military dictators didn't allow us to come back. But when I receive support from my people. I was able to return my home in 1981. Since then, I've been working to achieve this goal. No one will be landless or homeless. This is our aim. We are making free of cost. We are providing houses for the poor people, landless homeless people. And each and every people should get food, at least two meals per day. We, we achieve that. And that way there are many other area we need lots of time to expand I know there is time. Well, time is too short time is very limited I cannot explain everything but I am trying all my best to fulfill my father's dream. You are in this exploitation free society. Peace and harmony that is our name. Thank you very much. And I dedicated this to my people. Prime Minister you are you are inspiring us and we all want to wish you and all the people of Bangladesh a happy 50th birthday and all success going forward. And as we start to travel again I'm looking forward to being back in Dhaka it's been too, too long that we can't move, but I hope that I can call on you at home in your beautiful country. Thank you for seeing you there but I want to thank you so much for being with us at this conference so you've touched a lot of people and a lot of people have heard you and will draw lessons from you and will hear your powerful call to action so that nobody is left behind. Be sure of that. Thank you so much. I invite you to come to Bangladesh now you should see the Bangladesh. I'm excited, I'm excited to do that. And I look forward to that very much. Let me thank you and we will turn it over to Lauren to help us close. Lauren, burrito who has brilliantly organized all of our sessions, and Lauren if I could ask you to help thank all the people that have made I CSD possible, I would be most grateful, and for all the people listening thank you for participating in the conference, and we're so honored and grateful to hear the Prime Minister Bangladesh. Thank you so much. Thank you so much everyone we are grateful to all of you for tuning in and no one more so than the Prime Minister again it has been our deep pleasure to host you. We have another set of sessions starting in about 40 minutes I threw the link to the program into the chat. So, again, thank you Prime Minister and we look forward to seeing everybody online for our next session and about 40 minutes. Thank you. Bye now.