<div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">The United Nations (UN) has reaffirmed its strong support for the reform initiatives of Bangladesh's interim government, led by Professor Muhammad Yunus.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The universal global organisation came up with the pledge at a meeting between its Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peace building Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo and visiting Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin in New York on Wednesday, a foreign ministry's press release said here today.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The foreign secretary thanked DiCarlo for the assurance terming the UN support as 'crucial' in realizing the aspiration of student-led July-August revolution.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">During the meeting, they also discussed Bangladesh's contribution to the UN peace architecture, and the protracted Rohingya crisis.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On UN peace operations, the foreign secretary made a request to the UN through USG to increase representation of Bangladeshi nationals at the senior policy making levels.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">About the Rohingya issue, Jashim underlined 'global attention as well as global action' to solve the crisis.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He expressed concerns that the current conflicting situation in Myanmar is leading to new influx of Rohingyas inside the territory of Bangladesh.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Alluding to the possible spill over in the entire region, the foreign secretary urged the UN to play a greater role in resolving the crisis in Myanmar and facilitating the repatriation of the Rohingyas from Bangladesh to Myanmar.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He also assured of Bangladesh's full cooperation to the special envoy of the secretary-general.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">The foreign secretary recalled the proposal of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus to convene an international conference on the Rohingya crisis, and requested the UN support in that regard.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In response, the under-secretary-general appreciated the ongoing cooperation between the Bangladesh's interim government and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She offered further cooperation to advance the reform initiatives in key areas.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She also commended the role of Bangladesh in UN Peacekeeping.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On the Rohingya issue, DiCarlo expressed hope that new Special Envoy of the Secretary General Julie Bishop will continue to work with all stakeholders to address this issue comprehensively.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Earlier, the foreign secretary delivered a statement at the Third Committee of the General Assembly on 'advancement of women'.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In his statement, he highlighted the importance of investing in women education and skill development, and underscored the need to mobilize necessary financial resources in this regard.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Jashim emphasized Bangladesh government's initiatives in female education, gender parity, close digital divide, ensuring wellbeing and economic empowerment of women to make them self-reliant.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">The foreign Secretary also highlighted Bangladesh's commitment to the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, CEDAW and Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda while mentioning Bangladesh's key role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in the adoption of its founding resolution 1325 in 2000.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>