UN unanimously adopts Bangladesh's Resolution on 'World Rural Development Day'

The United Nations General Assembly has unanimously adopted Bangladesh's Resolution proclaiming 6 July as 'World Rural Development Day' with an overwhelming number of co-sponsorships.

Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN in New York Ambassador Muhammad Abdul Muhith introduced the Resolution at the General Assembly yesterday (6 September).

Ambassador Muhith expressed optimism that the proclamation of World Rural Development Day would create global awareness about the importance of collaborative actions on integrated, sustainable, and inclusive rural development and would accelerate worldwide movements and actions to enhance socio-economic progress for rural populations with the view to meet the 2030 SDGs.

The Resolution urges all member states, organisations of the United Nations, and other international and regional organisations to observe World Rural Development Day.

It calls for non-governmental organisations, individuals, and various stakeholders — including civil society, farmers' organisations, indigenous people, local communities, the private sector, and academia — to present and promote concrete activities.

These activities should focus on the sustainable development of rural areas and communities, tailored to national and regional contexts.

It also requests the UN Secretary-General to bring it to the attention of all relevant stakeholders, including member states, for the appropriate observance of the Day.

The Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the UN in New York negotiated the draft resolution in close coordination with Dhaka's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The date has been chosen in commemoration of the establishment of the 'Center for Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP)' on 6 July 1979, as a recognition of the organisation's assistance role in sustainable rural development endeavours in its member states in the Asia-Pacific region. 

It is the first UN General Assembly resolution steered by Bangladesh after the assumption of the Interim Government, which marked the new government's commitment to cater for the needs of those who are in need through effective use of multilateralism by ensuring equal access to opportunities in all areas of the SDGs, leaving no one behind.

The Resolution initiated by Bangladesh on Friday was tabled by a core group composed of Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Peru, the Philippines and Thailand. A total of 43 countries co-sponsored the Resolution, which was adopted by consensus by the member states of the UN without any voting.