UN-HABITAT Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Sharif has urged Bangladesh to support its upcoming initiatives on slum upgradation and urban housing.
She also appreciated the Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's vision to provide civic amenities in villages through her Amar Gram, Amar Shohor (My Village, My City) program, the foreign ministry said.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Sunday met Sharif at her office in Nairobi, Kenya on the eve of the 2nd UN-HABITAT Assembly which will be held from June 5-9 with the theme of accelerating Sustainable Development Goals for a sound urban future amidst multiple global crises.
UN-HABITAT is the UN program for human settlements and sustainable urban development.
Dr Momen shared the progress of the prime minister's flagship Ashrayan project to provide free-of-cost houses on government land for the homeless and landless across the country.
Executive Director Sharif recalled her participation at the high-level side-event on the gender-responsive, social housing project in presence of Sheikh Hasina in New York in September 2022.
Dr Momen invited her to visit Bangladesh soon to witness the project and its impact on the beneficiaries.
He also briefed the executive director and her colleagues about the prime minister's Amar Bari, Amar Khamar (My Home, My Farm) program to ensure sustainable living around homesteads.
The executive director assured of continued financing and knowledge-based support for a sustainable urban future in Bangladesh.
Dr Momen flagged the critical importance of addressing the issue of providing housing and services to climate migrants in urban areas.
He also mentioned the initiative taken by Bangladesh to provide safe and climate-resilient housing to the forcibly displaced Rohingya from Myanmar in Bhasan Char.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to Kenya Tareque Muhammad was present at the meeting.
A Bangladesh delegation comprising representatives from the ministries of foreign affairs and housing and public works is taking part at the Assembly.
Around 4,000 participants from national and local governments, civil society and media are expected to attend the meet.
