The newly appointed Country Representative of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Kristine Blokhus, and UN-WOMEN Country Representative Gitanjali Singh, presented their credentials through separate calls on to Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Foreign Minister on Wednesday welcomed Blokhus and Singh to Bangladesh and expressed deep appreciation for the long-standing cooperation between the Government of Bangladesh and the two UN agencies in the socio-economic development of the country.
Momen, during his separate discussions with two Country Representatives, highlighted Bangladesh’s success story in effectively combating the Covid-19 pandemic.
He also recalled Bangladesh’s commendable success in population control through public building awareness at the grassroots level without imposing any mandatory restrictions.
He sought UNFPA’s support in undertaking a similar awareness programme among forcibly displaced Rohingyas living in the camps in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh.
With UNFPA Country Representative, he also underscored Bangladesh’s success in the health sector at the grassroots level through community clinics.
He expressed concern about the fact that the population living under the poverty line are still having a larger families, and requested UNFPA to work in this area.
Foreign Minister also expressed concern about the still prevalent scourge of early marriage and requested concerned UN agencies to assist the Government in curbing this.
He also highlighted the sufferings of the people due to the ongoing flood situation in the country; and requested UN agencies’ support.
With the UN-WOMEN country representative, Foreign Minister Momen also underscored the unparallel success Bangladesh has achieved in women empowerment under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Both Blokhus and Singh praised Bangladesh’s admirable socio-economic progress in recent years and expressed willingness to work with the Government in further carrying forward the strong collaboration between Bangladesh and the UN system.
