New York, 09 September 2020:

H.E. Rabab Fatima, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations in New York, has presented her credential to Mr. Michael W. Lodge, the Secretary General of the International Seabed Authority, as the Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to International Seabed Authority. Due to the covid-19 related travel restrictions, the ceremony took place in a virtual platform on 7 September, 2020.

During the presentation of credential, Ambassador Fatima and Secretary General Lodge discussed issues of mutual interest between Bangladesh and International Seabed Authority. Ambassador Fatima stated that Bangladesh deeply values the role of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), especially in developing the regulatory frameworks for ensuring equitable share of benefits from deep seabed mining.

She stressed on the need for enhanced cooperation between Bangladesh and ISA in the field of capacity building and technology transfer, as a means for achieving sustainable development goals. In return, Secretary General expressed his deep satisfaction to the contribution of Bangladesh in fulfillment of the mandate of the International Seabed Authority.

As a concluding remark, Ambassador Rabab Fatima assured the Secretary General of her delegation’s deeper engagement in the ISA both at the technical and political level in future.

Made up of 167 Member States including Bangladesh, the International Seabed Authority is mandated under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea to organize, regulate and control all mineral-related activities in the international seabed area for the benefit of mankind as a whole. Its Headquarters is located in Kingston, Jamaica.