AL to greet PM for Champions of the Earth award

Bangladesh Awami League will arrange a reception for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on October 3 to congratulate her on receiving UN’s highest environmental accolade.

AL Presidium Member Mohammad Nasim made the announcement after emerging from the party’s secretarial meeting held at Sheikh Hasina’s Dhanmondi office today.

Leaders and activists of the party and its different front and associate bodies have been urged to stand both sides of the airports road to Gono Bhaban around 1:30pm on that day to greet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as she returns home.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 1:30pm on October 3. 

United Nations Environment Programme (Unep) Executive Director Achim Steiner handed over the prestigious “Champions of the Earth” award to Hasina in the policy leadership category at United Nations headquarters in New York Sunday.

Through the award Unep recognises Bangladesh's first-off-the-block initiatives under Hasina's government to prepare the ecologically fragile country for the challenges it faces from climate change.

The annual Champions of the Earth award is the highest environmental accolade that the United Nations can confer upon outstanding individuals and organisations. Previous laureates of this inclusive award range from leaders of nations to grassroots activists – all visionaries whose leadership and actions drive the world ever closer to its aspirations of environmental sustainability and a life of dignity for all.

To date, the Champions of the Earth has recognised 67 laureates in the categories of policy, science, business and civil society.

The other winners named so far are the National Geographic Society (Science and Innovation); Brazilian cosmetics firm Natura (Entrepreneurial Vision); and South Africa's Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit (Inspiration and Action).