Diplomatic Correspondent

The Second Committee of the United Nations General Assembly has unanimously adopted Bangladesh’s flagship resolution, ‘Natural Plant Fibres and Sustainable Development.’

This resounding support is a testament to the international community's recognition of Bangladesh's unwavering commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development through the thoughtful and sustainable use of natural fibres like jute, cotton, and sisal.

The resolution, which is seen as a groundbreaking development, urged member states to champion sustainable production, consumption, and use of natural plant fibres, said the Bangladesh Mission in New York on Wednesday.

It emphasised political support, resource mobilisation, capacity-building, and effective management to drive momentum for the sustainable production, consumption, and use of natural plant fibres at the global, regional, national, and local levels.

The resolution also recognised natural fibres as a commendable alternative to synthetic and plastic-based products, highlighting that the production, consumption, and use of natural fibres can contribute to achieving the 2030 agenda.

While introducing the resolution on November 21, the representative of the Bangladesh Mission to the United Nations in New York expressed gratitude to all delegations for their active engagement, flexibility, and contribution to strengthening the resolution and achieving consensus.

In his statement, the representative stated that the government of Bangladesh, under the able and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, takes the resolution very seriously.

Underscoring the complementary role of natural plant fibres in mitigating climate change and preserving biodiversity, the Bangladesh representative called for international cooperation to ensure the full implementation of the resolution.

Bangladesh first tabled this resolution in 2019 at the 74th United Nations General Assembly, and since then, this resolution has been adopted biannually by UN members.