UN Secretary-General António Guterres has reaffirmed the UN's continued support to Bangladesh in overcoming unprecedented challenges that may arise out of the ongoing global conflicts, financial, energy and food crises, and the adverse impacts of climate change.
He made the comment while meeting Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen at the United Nations Headquarters in New York recently.
The foreign minister applauded the Black Sea Grain initiative, which helped countries in need to import fertilizer and cereal to tackle their food crises, according to Bangladesh Mission in the UN.
Guterres said some European countries, namely Latvia, Estonia, Belgium and Netherlands, have adequate stockpiles of raw materials of fertilizer, which Bangladesh may consider importing at an affordable price.
Thanking the secretary-general, Momen assured that Bangladesh will explore the possibility.
Appreciating Bangladesh's extraordinary development trajectory under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Guterres wished that Bangladesh continues to achieve more success in the coming years, particularly in attaining the SDGs.
He also admired the continuous leadership of Bangladesh in maintaining international peace and security as the top troops and police-contributing country to the United Nations peacekeeping missions.
They also discussed the Rohingya crisis and a possible way out in view of the recently adopted Security Council resolution on Myanmar.
They underscored the importance of Asean leadership in resolving the crisis. The UN secretary general highly appreciated Bangladesh's generosity in sheltering 1.2 million Rohingyas and reiterated the UN's support for repatriating the forcibly displaced Rohingyas to their homeland, Myanmar.
Earlier, the foreign minister held meetings with Csaba Kőrösi, president of the General Assembly (PGA); Rosemary DiCarlo, under-secretary-general for the Department of Peacebuilding and Political Affairs (DPPA); and Jean-Pierre Lacroix, under-secretary-general for Department of Peace Operations (DPO).
During his meeting with the PGA, they discussed a wide range of issues particularly the proposal of Bangladesh for the establishment of a ministerial forum on South-South Cooperation.
Thanking the foreign minister for the initiative, the PGA commended Bangladesh's remarkable leadership, productive engagement and significant contribution in recent times in various processes of the United Nations and expressed his commitment to work together.
During his meeting with the under-secretary-general for the DPPA, the under-secretary-general appreciated the important role played by Bangladesh during its chairmanship of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) for 2022.
While meeting with the under-secretary-general for the Department of Peace Operations, the under-secretary-general praised the recently concluded bilateral agreement between Bangladesh and the Gambia for the joint deployment of peacekeepers in future UN Missions.
He assured that his department will promote initiatives where other countries can benefit from Bangladesh's experience in peacekeeping operations.
Against this backdrop, Momen reiterated Bangladesh's continued commitment to UN peacekeeping operations and its readiness to provide more peacekeepers and equipment as and when necessary.
Among others, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN in New York Ambassador Muhammad Abdul Muhith was present at the meetings.
