Dhaka, 21 March 2018:

The newly appointed Country Representative of the UNFPA in Bangladesh, Dr. Asa Torkelsson presented her credentials to the Foreign Minister A H Mahmood Ali, MP today. Highlighting improvement of maternal health and lowering of child mortality as the priority issues for the Government the Foreign Minister expressed deep appreciation for long-standing cooperation between GoB and UNFPA in diverse fields, such as, sexual and reproductive health, capacity building of institutions, prevention of gender based violence, etc.

Foreign Minister thanked UNFPA for partnering with the government for humanitarian response to the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals. Referring to government’s commitment to achieve Sustainable Development Goals, Minister Ali expressed that UNFPA will come forward in this regard. Minister Ali also mentioned about Government’s success in achieving Millennium Development Goals ahead of the time.

The Representative of UNFPA thanked the Foreign Minister for accepting her credentials. She lauded Bangladesh’s stellar achievements in the field of women empowerment, ensuring gender parity and sexual and reproductive health. She congratulated Minister Ali for Bangladesh’s graduation from one of the least developed countries where improvement of maternal and child health played a significant role. She also assured that UNFPA will continue to work with the Government of Bangladesh for the overall development including supporting the gender equality, women's empowerment and capacity building of institutions from local level to national level.

Md. Tohidul Islam
Senior Information Officer
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Mob: 01718543625