Dhaka, 28 January 2024:

UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, Ms. Gwyn Lewis paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud, M.P. today.

Ms. Lewis congratulated the Foreign Minister on his appointment. 

Foreign Minister referred to his recent meeting with UN Secretary General H.E. António Guterres in Kampala and appreciated Secretary General’s steadfast stance on critical global issues, including on the catastrophic situation in Gaza. He further commended the Secretary General for his congratulatory letter to Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina acknowledging her leadership and valuable contributions to addressing pressing global challenges.

On the Rohingya issue, Dr. Hasan Mahmud noted the significant burden on Bangladesh and underscored the urgency of early repatriation. Mentioning the diminishing humanitarian support to the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals, he requested the UN and the international community keep the Rohingya issue at the top of the agenda. The Resident Coordinator acknowledged the security implications arising from the prolonged crisis.

The Resident Coordinator briefed the Foreign Minister on the various areas of collaborations between the UN country team and the Government of Bangladesh including on technical assistance provided by the UN with regard to Bangladesh’s graduation from the LDCs.

Indicating Bangladesh’s multifaceted collaboration with the UN system, Foreign Minister emphasized on the importance of consistency across the UN system. He requested the UN to ensure that all its offices remained on the same page on various issues and to verify information before making public statements.

Noting that 2024 marks the golden jubilee of Bangladesh’s membership at the UN, Dr. Hasan Mahmud underlined the need for celebrating the occasion in a befitting manner. He assured the Resident Coordinator and her team of his office’s all-out support and cooperation in discharging their responsibilities.