State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir on Tuesday called for stronger coordination among UN agencies and closer alignment of UN programmes with Bangladesh’s Five-Year Strategic Framework for Reform and Development (2026-2031).
"Bangladesh highly values its longstanding partnership with the United Nations and remains committed to further reinforcing its cooperation in support of shared priorities and national development," he said during a meeting with Carol Flore-Smereczniak, UN resident coordinator ad interim, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The state minister expressed appreciation to Flore-Smereczniak for her leadership of the UN Country Team in advancing Bangladesh’s development priorities.
In response to a query, State Minister Kobir shared a brief overview of the prime minister’s key engagements during the recently concluded High-Level Week of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, including the meeting with the UN Secretary-General.
On the Rohingya crisis, the state minister appreciated the UN’s humanitarian support and called for sustained UN efforts to ensure the early and sustainable return of the Rohingyas to their ancestral homes in Myanmar, emphasizing that repatriation remains the only viable solution.
The UN resident coordinator ad interim lauded the Government’s ongoing support and reaffirmed the UN’s readiness to deepen its partnership with Bangladesh. She also underscored the UN Country Team’s commitment to working closely with the government to address shared challenges.
Why it matters
Closer coordination between United Nations agencies and the national reform framework directly impacts multilateral development and humanitarian efforts in Bangladesh.