Monthly Archives: September 2014

40 Years of UN-Bangladesh Partnership – Month-long Exhibition re-installed at Sufia Kamal National Public Library

07Dhaka, 30 Sep 2014: The contribution of United Nations towards the development process of Bangladesh during the last forty years has been illustrated in a time line Exhibit which has been re-installed at the Sufia Kamal National Public library on 30 September 2014. The milestone achievements of different UN agencies working in Bangladesh have been put together in the exhibit. The UNICEF Representative in Bangladesh Pascal Villeneuve and Director-General (Additional Secretary) of Department of Public Library Md. Hafizur Rahman formally opened the Display Installation of 40th Anniversary of UN-Bangladesh Relationship at the public library premises. Officials of UNRC Office, UNIC Dhaka and Public Library were present during the opening ceremony. In his opening remarks, the UNICEF Representative highlights on activities of UN system in Bangladesh and appreciates government’s cooperation in this regard. He also thanked Public Library authority for allowing UN Country Team to re-install the exhibit at their location. The display booth will run till UN Day on 24 October 2014.

After inauguration, UNICEF Rep along with DG and UN officials visited the library and interacts with the library users, a number of rare collections of the library were shared with Rep. ​UNIC Dhaka and RC Office (on behalf of UNCT) coordinated the whole process of the month-long exhibition.

 

The Secretary-General Remarks at Event Marking the 40th Anniversary of Banngladesh’s Membership of the United Nations, New York, 26 Sep. 2014 [as prepared for delivery]

173378I am delighted to join you in celebrating the 40th anniversary of Bangladesh’s membership in the United Nations.

Allow me to offer a personal recollection. In 1973, as a Foreign Service officer posted in New Delhi, I was part of the team that was responsible for establishing my country’s diplomatic ties with Bangladesh. When I visited for the visit time, I was deeply humbled by what I saw, because your country reminded me so much of mine at the end of the Korean War. There were so many shortages I had to tear small strips of paper for my counterpart at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for him to be able to write me a memo! Continue reading →

Celebration of 40th Anniversary of Bangladesh’s Membership in the United Nations

Dhaka, 17 September:  In commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of Bangladesh’s membership in the United Nations, United Nations Country Team (UNCT) Bangladesh and Ministry of Foreign Affairs jointly organized a High level discussion and Exhibition titled 40 Years of Partnership between UN and Bangladesh, at Osmani Memorial Hall on 17 September 2014.  Honourable Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina graced the occasion as Chief Guest. The UN Resident Coordinator spoke on UN-Bangladesh partnership during last 40 years. Honourable Finance Minister Abul Maal A Muhith, MP,  Honourable Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, MP and Honourable State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Md. Shahriar Alam, MP spoke in the programme.  The former President UN Association of Bangladesh Prof. Salahuddin Ahmed was the key-note speaker. An exhibition – 40 Years of partnership between Bangladesh and UN – was also opened for the visitors where major milestones of UN agencies during the last 40 years were displayed.  Ministers, civil society members, stakeholders and hundreds of visitors visited the historic display booth. In the event, there were cultural programme, cancellation of commemorative stamp and distribution of prizes among the winners of children art contest.  UNIC Dhaka worked as one of Task Force members to organize the events.

“Engaging Young People on Democracy” – UN Secretary-General’s Message for Int’l Day of Democracy, 15 Sep. 2014

Democracy DayAs we observe this year’s International Day of Democracy, the world seems more turbulent than ever. In many regions and in many ways, the values of the United Nations, including some of the most fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined in the UN Charter, are being tested and challenged.

Recent outbreaks of violence reinforce a truth we have seen time and again: that where societies are not inclusive, and where governments are not responsive and Continue reading →

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Message on the Day of South-South Cooperation, 12 September 2014

This year’s United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation comes as the international community is transitioning to a post-2015 development agenda centred on shared prosperity and environmental sustainability.

Despite remarkable advances in achieving the Millennium Development Goals, progress across the South has been uneven. Extreme poverty, rampant inequality, malnutrition and vulnerability to climate and weather-related shocks persist.

According to the UN Multidimensional Poverty Index, 2.2 billion people still live in abject poverty. About 1.4 billion people, the majority in the South, still have no reliable electricity, 900 million lack access to clean water and 2.6 billion do not have adequate sanitation. Continue reading →