24th commemoration of the Rwanda genocide: UN Secretary-General’s Message 2018

Twenty-four years ago, more than 800,000 people were systematically killed in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. The victims were overwhelmingly Tutsi, but also included moderate Hutu, Twa and others. Today we remember all those who were murdered and reflect on the suffering of the survivors, who have shown that reconciliation is possible, even after a tragedy of such monumental proportions.

Rwanda has learned from its tragedy; so must the international community. States have a fundamental responsibility to protect their populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. It is imperative that we unite to prevent such atrocities from occurring, and that the international community sends a strong message to perpetrators that they will be held accountable.

I am deeply concerned about the rise of racism, hate speech and xenophobia around the world. These base manifestations of human cruelty provide the breeding ground for far more evil acts. People are still being killed, displaced and their human rights abused in many parts of the world because of their faith or ethnicity. I am particularly troubled by the plight of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar. Members of this religious and ethnic minority have been systematically killed, tortured, raped, burnt alive and humiliated, and more than 671,000 have fled in search of safety in neighbouring Bangladesh. Continue reading →

Empowering Women and Girls with Autism: World Autism Day observed

Dhaka, 5 April 2018: With the theme of “Empowering Women and Girls with Autism” a seminar and cultural programme on World Autism Awareness Day was organized at BPF auditorium. In his speech, UNIC NIO focused on the role and activities of United Nations in relation to autism referring UN Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons. BPF Executive Director Dr. Shamim Ferdous urged to all stakeholders to come forward in empowering women and girls in autism. UN Secretary-General’s Message (Bangla) on the Day was readout and  distributed among all the participants. A cultural programme was performed by both autistic and non-autistic children. UN promotional materials were distributed among the children. The event was jointly organized by Bangladesh Protibondhi Foundation (BPF), Shishu Bikash Network (SBN) and UN Information Centre on 5 April 2018.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s Message on World Autism Awareness Day

2 April 2018: On World Autism Awareness Day, we stand up for the rights of people with autism and speak out against discrimination.

This year’s observance highlights the importance of empowering women and girls with autism.

They face multiple challenges including barriers to accessing education and employment on an equal footing with others, denial of their reproductive rights and the freedom to make their own choices, and a lack of involvement in policy making on matters that concern them.

Our work for gender equality and women’s empowerment must reach all the world’s women and girls.  And our efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals must uphold the 2030 Agenda’s core promise to leave no one behind.

On World Autism Awareness Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to promote the full participation of all people with autism, and ensure they have the necessary support to be able to exercise their rights and fundamental freedoms.

International Women’s Day: Panel Discussion

Dhaka 11 March 2018: A panel discussion was organized at United International University (UIU) campus in Baridhara with the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day – “Time is Now: Rural and Urban activists transforming women’s lives”. To mark the Day, UNV Bangladesh, UNIC Dhaka jointly with UIU arranged the panel discussion. The Vice Chancellor of UIU Prof. Dr Chowdhury Mofizur Rahman presided over the session while UNDP Deputy Country Director Ms Kyoko Yokosuka formally opened the event putting emphasis on women empowerment and upliftment of women’s life mainly in rural areas. Continue reading →

UN Secretary-General’s Message on International Women’s Day, 8 March 2018

Women in Brazil march for women's rights. Photo: UN Women/Bruno Spada

We are at a pivotal moment for women’s rights. The historical and structural inequalities that have allowed oppression and discrimination to flourish are being exposed like never before. From Latin America to Europe to Asia, on social media, on film sets, on the factory floor and in the streets, women are calling for lasting change and zero tolerance for sexual assault, harassment, and discrimination of all kinds.

Achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls is the unfinished business of our time, and the greatest human rights challenge in our world. Continue reading →

UNRC’s Interview with UNB: Inclusive growth keeping environment unhurt matters

Diversifying economy, investment in human dev keys to further growth 

United Nations in Bangladesh is working closely with the Government of Bangladesh to ensure that Bangladesh achieves new global goals – Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – and related targets by 2030. 

Mia Seppo, who joined the United Nations Country Team in Bangladesh as the Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in November 2017, talked to DhakaCourier exclusively on a number of issues that matter.

Appreciating the current economic growth in Bangladesh, the United Nations has laid emphasis on having an ‘inclusive’ growth without compromising with environmental sustainability. Continue reading →

Tribute ceremony held in Mali for four fallen Bangladeshi peacekeepers

This morning, Tuesday, March 6, a memorial ceremony was held in Bamako for four fallen Bangladeshi peacekeepers who were killed in the line of duty on February 28, in the Mopti region of Mali.

Warrant Officer Abul Kalam Azad, Corporal Mohammad Akter Hossin, and soldiers Mohammad Rayhan Ali and Jamal Uddin were killed when their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device on the Boni-Douentza road. During the same attack four other peacekeepers were seriously injured.

The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG) Mr. Mahamat Saleh Annadif and the MINUSMA Force Commander General Jean-Paul Deconinck were present at the ceremony held at the MINUSMA Operational Base in Bamako.

      

Continue reading →

Thank You Bangladesh For Your Service and Sacrifice

Members of the Bangladeshi contingents play different roles in UN peacekeeping missions around the world #ServingForPeace. Pictured, a UN peacekeeper from Bangladesh provides free medical consultations to residents of a community in the Central African Republic. Photo: MINUSCA.

    

 

 

Bangladesh: Three Decades of Service and Sacrifice in UN Peacekeeping Missions

United Nations peacekeepers come from diverse cultures and speak different languages, but share a common purpose: the protection of vulnerable communities and the provision of support to countries struggling to move from conflict to peace.

Bangladesh is one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping operations, the country first deployed uniformed personnel to serve with the Organization in 1988. Over the past three decades, the contributions of these brave men and women in the countries in which they serve have been immense.

As of December 2017, there were 7,246 Bangladeshi troops and police personnel in 10 missions around the world. Bangladeshi peacekeepers work in various roles – some provide protection, heal others and design roads – but all serve under the blue flag to support the governments and peoples of the countries in which they serve.

This year marks 30 years of Bangladeshi contributions to United Nations peacekeeping. We acknowledge and appreciate their brave contribution.