In a significant meeting held yesterday, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo, reiterated the United Nations' strong backing for the reform initiatives of Bangladesh's interim government, led by Professor Muhammad Yunus.
This meeting coincided with Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin’s inaugural visit to New York, emphasising Bangladesh's commitment to multilateralism and collaborative efforts with the UN, said a press release.
Describing the UN's support as "crucial" for realising the aspirations stemming from the July-August revolution, Foreign Secretary Uddin expressed gratitude to Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo for reaffirming this commitment.
During the discussions, they delved into Bangladesh’s contributions to UN peace architecture as well as the protracted Rohingya crisis.
On the topic of UN peace operations, the foreign secretary made a formal request to enhance the representation of Bangladeshi nationals at senior policymaking levels.
Regarding the Rohingya crisis, he underscored the need for "global attention as well as global action" to address the ongoing humanitarian situation.
He voiced concerns about the current conflict in Myanmar, which has resulted in a new influx of Rohingya individuals into Bangladesh. Highlighting the potential spillover effects across the region, he urged the UN to assume a more active role in resolving the crisis in Myanmar and facilitating the repatriation of Rohingyas from Bangladesh.
Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin assured the UN of Bangladesh’s full cooperation with the special envoy of the secretary-general, recalling Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus's proposal to convene an international conference on the Rohingya crisis and requesting the UN's support for this initiative.
In response, Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo acknowledged the ongoing collaboration between Bangladesh's interim government and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
She extended an offer for further cooperation to advance reform initiatives in key sectors and commended Bangladesh's role in UN Peacekeeping efforts.
On the Rohingya issue, she expressed optimism that the new Special Envoy of the Secretary-General Julie Bishop, would continue to work comprehensively with all stakeholders to address the crisis.
Earlier, the Foreign Secretary delivered a statement at the Third Committee of the General Assembly, focusing on the "advancement of women".
In his address, he underscored the necessity of investing in women’s education and skill development, emphasising the need to mobilise adequate financial resources for these initiatives.
He highlighted the Bangladeshi government’s efforts in promoting female education, ensuring gender parity, bridging the digital divide, and enhancing the economic empowerment of women to foster self-reliance.
Moreover, he reaffirmed Bangladesh's commitment to the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, noting Bangladesh’s key role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in the adoption of its foundational Resolution 1325 in 2000.
The meeting with Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo was attended by Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Muhammad Abdul Muhith.
