The United Nations reflects on 50 years of partnership with Bangladesh

On October 31, 2024, the United Nations in Bangladesh marked UN Day by launching a photo exhibition, "A Promise for Future Generations: 50 Years of Bangladesh in the United Nations." 

Spanning five decades, from the early 1970s when the UN first aided refugees fleeing the former East Pakistan to the momentous events of 2024, the images captured the essence of human life at the core of all UN initiatives. They showcased how UN programmes have helped women and children achieve literacy, promoted sustainability in the garment industry, and supported farmers in accessing financial services. These powerful images tell a story of progress that characterises Bangladesh's development over the past fifty years. 

More than 200 guests from the government, civil society, and private sector attended the inauguration and were invited to reflect on the history of the UN’s partnership with Bangladesh. 

Ms. Gwyn Lewis, the UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, welcomed attendees by highlighting the country’s fifty years of progress and the promise of its future, stating, “We would like to dedicate this exhibition to the youth of Bangladesh because it is their vision that we are duty bound to take forward." 

Upazila store to distribution points by porters

The Guest of Honor, Mr Syed Masud Mahmood Khundoker, Secretary of the Consular & Welfare Wing in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangladesh, spoke about the significance of the UN's partnership with the country: "This event gives an opportunity to reiterate our commitment to working with the UN: together, we will continue to strive for a world where no one is left behind. As stated by Dr Yunus, the Chief Advisor of our country, we envision a world with three zeros—zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero net carbon emissions. Let's share our responsibility for shared prosperity."

The exhibit was hosted at the UN Common Office in Dhaka and Shahabuddin Park and extended for a week due to popular demand. A mobile exhibition displayed photos on rickshaws throughout Dhaka to reach a wider audience.

The images inspired locals and UN staff to reflect on the history, impact, and breadth of the UN’s work in Bangladesh. "As a female staff member from WFP, I take pride in being part of an organisation dedicated to empowering our people, especially women and children,” stated Sonia Akter, a WFP staff member at the exhibition.

A local businessperson, Mr. Arifuzzaman, said, "It was an eye-opener. We know how the UN is supporting Bangladesh, especially in the recent context of our student protests and the support of our interim government. However, this exhibition showed the historical context of the UN's work with Bangladesh, even during the liberation war.”

UNICEF-run learning center in Camp 1W, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, in

This UN Day 2024 observation celebrated a longstanding partnership, reaffirming the UN's commitment to supporting Bangladesh as it continues its journey towards a more resilient and sustainable future.

The exhibition's participating organisations included FAO, IFAD, ILO, IOM, UN Women, UNAIDS, UNCDF, UNDP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNIDO, UNODC, UNOPS, UNV, WFP, and WHO. 

To learn more about the UN’s history in Bangladesh, check out the links below: 

Virtual Gallery showcasing exhibition, "A Promise for Future Generations: 50 Years of Bangladesh in the United Nations" 

UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, Gwyn Lewis, reflects on the three themes that will shape Bangladesh’s future

Full text of UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh’s speech at the Launch of the 50th Anniversary of Bangladesh's UN Membership Photo Exhibition