News Desk: Dhaka, Oct-06,

Ambassador Md Mustafizur Rahman, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh in Geneva, has said the Intellectual Property Regime (IPR) system should not become a barrier to respond effectively to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Bangladesh envoy said this at the 62nd series of the General Assemblies of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) that began on October 4 last at the WIPO Headquarters in Geneva. The General Assemblies of WIPO would conclude at the end of the week, according to a message received here today.

In his capacity as the Coordinator of the Asia and the Pacific Group (APG) in WIPO, Ambassador Rahman highlighted that a balanced IPR system was required to encourage and ensure the development of and equitable access to the medical tools - such as diagnostics, therapeutics, vaccines - to fight this global health crisis.

Underscoring the region's great attachment to the intellectual property as an important contributor to socioeconomic growth and technological development, he stressed the need for a fair and balanced IPR system to foster economic development in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

Rahman said Bangladesh, in its national capacity, also urged for WIPO's specific attention to help it identify its challenges and needs in terms of IP as well as prepare for the special situation after graduation from the LDC category in 2026.

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