United Nations in Bangladesh

The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Bangladesh:

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25 April 2023

The Rana Plaza disaster ten years on: What has changed

Over 1,100 people – mostly garment workers – lost their lives when the Rana Plaza factory collapsed in the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh, on 24 April 2013. Many more were injured, and the survivors faced a very uncertain future. Ten years on from the disaster, much has changed. Today, the industry is safer and the capacity of the Bangladeshi Government to oversee compliance is much stronger. But what challenges remain? To read more: ILO website

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21 February 2023

United in diversity: UN country office congratulates Bangladesh on International Mother Language Day

We are particularly honoured to mark this day here in Bangladesh as the 21st February is also a worldwide tribute to the people of Bangladesh who have courageously fought for recognition of the Bangla language. To commemorate the Bangladeshi martyrs who sacrificed their lives on this very day in 1952, the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) unanimously proclaimed the 21st February International Mother Language Day in 1999. This is a significant contribution of Bangladesh to the world. On this day we mark our linguistic and cultural diversity, the core of our identity, and aim “to promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by peoples of the world”. Looking back at history, it is important to reflect on the significance of Mother Language Day to respect and protect all languages of the world. Unfortunately, about every two weeks a language disappears, and when a language disappears, the entire world loses a part of its traditions, memories, and experiences that make our societies so culturally and intellectually diverse. According to recent UNESCO estimates, at least 43% of the more than 6,000 languages spoken in the world are endangered. Due to globalisation processes, many languages, particularly indigenous ones, are on the verge of extinction. As fewer than a hundred of the world's languages are used in the digital world and only a few hundred widely-spoken languages have been taught in schools, this trend is likely to increase in the future. To tackle this, UN agencies encourages multilingual education to be based on the mother tongue or first language. This not only serves to keep languages alive but has a range of additional benefits in terms of learning outcomes. To emphasise the importance of this, last year was the beginning of the International decade of action on Indigenous Languages 2022-2032. This Decade highlights the revival and promotion of indigenous and mother-tongue languages. Preserving language is at the heart of preserving identity, culture and diversity, and hence the Sustainable Development Goals. In Bangladesh, the Bangla language is flourishing. Events such as Dhaka LitFest and the annual Ekushe Book Fair promote writing and reading in Bangla. The development of educational resource materials for teaching at primary grades in Bangladesh’s indigenous languages has started, initially with the five languages of Chakma, Garo, Marmar, Sadri, and Tripura. Additional languages will be added each year to eventually cover all the languages of the country. On 21 February, we remember the Bangla language movement martyrs Abdus Salam, Rafiq Uddin Ahmed, Abul Barkat, Abdul Jabbar, and Ohiullah for sacrificing their lives to speak their mother tongues. We should not forget the significance of this day. Embracing and protecting our linguistic diversity must be reinforced by not allowing anyone to use language as a tool to provoke conflicts and any forms of discrimination. It is important to respect all languages: big and small, widely and less spoken, indigenous and foreign. The diversity of languages is vital in intercultural dialogue to build inclusive societies. On behalf of the staff of the UN in Bangladesh, representing hundreds of foreign and indigenous languages of different states and parts of the country from Teknaf to Panchagarh we wish the people of Bangladesh a happy International Mother Language Day. The day the country courageously fought for, and the legacy of which should not be forgotten. Happy International Mother Language Day! The op-ed written by UN Resident Coordinator Gwyn Lewis and UNESCO Officer-in-charge Dr Susan Vize was published by Prothom Alo and the Daily Star on 21 February

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26 January 2023

UN team visit sites of Flash Flood Humanitarian Response in Sunamganj District of Sylhet Division, Bangladesh

About 5,000 people live in Anwarpur, a village full of lush greenery and blue water in the northeast of Tahirpur Upazilla, in Sunamganj District, Bangladesh. A place close to three great rivers, Surma, Kushiyara, and Sari-Gowain, and prone to natural disasters including floods, cyclones, and riverbank erosion among others. In the summer of 2022 flash floods hit the region massively making women and children suffer the most. To assist those affected by flash floods, the Central Emergency Respond Fund (CERF) allocated a total of $5 million to its six-month large-scale Flash Flood Humanitarian Response Plan to provide lifesaving support to vulnerable communities in the worst-hit districts. The priority areas of the plan were food security and livelihoods, water supply and sanitation, and the protection of displaced women and children. In November last year, the UN team in Bangladesh visited the flood-affected areas to see how the projects are being implemented and talk to people affected by floods. With the participation of representatives of different UN agencies, the team visited child protection centers in Shantiganj, nutrition, water, sanitation, and hand washing facilities in Anwarpur village along with food distribution centers, multi-purpose safe centers for women, and hospitals in other areas of Sunamganj. "We didn’t know about rainwater harvesting. Now we try to save rainwater for our use," a 24 year old mother of two children, Shefali Akhter, from Anwarpur village told the UN team. Following the floods, 8 out of every 10 children living in Anwarpur village have been diagnosed with undernourishment and over 84 children were identified with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), 70 of whom were admitted to the Upazila health complexes for treatment. A 1.5 year old child Anjuman was admitted to the hospital for 12 days after being diagnosed with severe malnutrition. "She was always sick since her birth, but I didn’t know what was wrong with her. After sessions [with specialists supported by CERF], and nutrition checkups done by the NGOs, she was diagnosed with Severe Acute Malnutrition and admitted to the hospital. They provided us with money for hospitalisation and medicines," Anjuman's mother shared her experience. As well as Anjuman's mother, Happy, Khushnahar, and many other women from this village, said their lives have been improved because of the support provided by CERF. "It is all very new to us, we are still trying to adapt to these healthy habits, and the continuation of these kinds of projects are necessary," these women said. Being a part of the response plan, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) supported local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) by providing referral support and consultation to high-risk pregnant mothers, as well as basic medicines against high fever, acute diarrhea, skin diseases, urinary tract infections, and injuries. It deployed social workers in most flood-affected districts and assisted to raise awareness about proper handwashing and ensure access to safe water. In collaboration with Department of Social Services (DSS) and Department of Women Affairs (DWA) UNICEF distributed a total of 4,575 non-food items (family, dignity, and recreational kits) to support children, women, and girls affected by floods. Among the activities funded by the CERF was assistance to pregnant women in flood-affected areas. Social workers supported by the CERF fund were taking care of pregnant women providing them with all necessary services.United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) supported midwives in the flood-affected areas, those who were taking care of pregnant women providing them with the required equipment - nine babies were born in November last year with the help of midwives. At Veemkhali and Derai in the Sunamganj region, the UN Women, the UN entity for gender equality and the empowerment of women, provided medical aid and psychological support and helped to raise awareness about gender-based violence among young girls. In the rural Haor Region, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) provided emergency assistance to smallholder farmers who suffered losses in flash floods. The assistance efforts targeted vulnerable smallholders in three severely affected districts in the northeastern part of the country: Sylhet, Sunamganj, and Netrokona. Fazilat Begum, 56, from Sunamganj district, lost a calf in the floods and then struggled to afford feed for her remaining cow. “My only calf drowned in the flood but somehow the cow survived, although it struggled because it developed malnutrition,” she said. The emergency livestock feed provided by FAO helped Fazilat’s remaining cow to regain its strength. The World Food Programme (WFP) were working to support flood-affected villagers. The agency distributed food, nutrient supplements, and monetary allowance for the villagers. Overall, the response activities funded by CERF have been implemented by UNICEF, UNFPA, WFP, FAO, and UN Women together with local humanitarian partners and the government of Bangladesh.

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Press Release

01 June 2023

UN in Bangladesh appeals for immediate funding as Rohingya refugees face new cuts in food aid

As of today, 1 June, the monthly food vouchers that Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar receive are reduced for the second time in three months - a 33% reduction in the daily ration. With the food voucher valued at as little as USD 8 (BDT 840) per person per month – that’s less than 10 cents per meal – the refugees face grim choices to make ends meet. Parents are already eating less and skipping meals so that their children can eat. The rations cuts affect approximately 1 million refugees who remain dependent on aid with no possibility of employment to sustain their livelihood. At the beginning of the year, refugees were receiving a ration from the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) of USD 12 per person per month, just enough to meet their daily needs, however on 1 March due to lack of funding, the ration was reduced to USD 10. Now the ration will only have a value of USD 8 per person. “We are extremely concerned that WFP has been forced to cut food aid for the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh - the nutrition and health consequences will be devastating, particularly for women and children and the most vulnerable in the community. We urgently appeal for international support. Only 24.6 percent of the Rohingya response is funded to provide basic health services, nutrition, food, and education for refugees who do not have any other source of support. People living in Rohingya camps are barred from working and they are completely dependent on international community funding,” said the UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, Gwyn Lewis, commenting on the cuts in food aid. These new cuts in lifesaving assistance come at a time when Rohingya refugees are recovering from the devastating impacts of Cyclone Mocha and the widespread fire that hit the refugee camps this year, leaving thousands of refugees in desperate need of help. Rohingya refugees are particularly vulnerable this year because the 2023 Appeal seeking USD 876 million dollars is only 24.6% funded as of 1 June resulting in other critical programmes and activities are also being cut. Further information: The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organisation, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change. On 23 May, The United Nations and its partners in Bangladesh appealed for USD 42.1 million for the Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi communities in Cox’s Bazar who are facing the devastating impact of Cyclone Mocha. The cyclone severely affected all 33 refugee camps and surrounding Bangladeshi villages. Media Contacts: Kun Li, Head of Partnerships, Communication & Reporting, WFP Bangladesh, kun.li@wfp.org, +8801322846137 Igor Sazonov, Communications Specialist, UN Resident Coordinator's Office, igor.sazonov@un.org, +8801321169633

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Press Release

29 May 2023

Economic growth cannot justify keeping workers in poverty, says UN expert

The Government of Bangladesh must move away from its reliance on cheap labour if it is to ensure a rights-based development following its expected graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, a UN poverty expert said today. “A country’s comparative advantage cannot lie in keeping its people poor,” the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Olivier De Schutter, said at the end of a 12-day visit to the country. “Bangladesh’s development has largely been driven by one export sector – the ready-made garment industry – which is highly dependent on keeping wages low,” he said. De Schutter urged the Government to use its upcoming graduation from LDC status in 2026 as an opportunity to rethink its reliance on the ready-made garment industry, which currently accounts for 82% of the country’s export revenue and employs 4 million workers. “As Bangladesh moves towards graduation, it continues to focus much of its energy on providing tax incentives to international investors and establishing special economic zones,” he said. “The Government's time and resources would be better spent on ensuring fair wages, educating and training workers, and improving social protection,” the UN expert said. “Not only will this attract investors who care about their reputation, it will pave the way for a new form of development in Bangladesh – one driven by domestic demand rather than exploitative export opportunities,” he said. The Special Rapporteur expressed alarm at the chilling effect on the ability of civil society to operate freely of the Government's NGO Affairs Bureau and the Digital Security Act – under which journalists, human rights defenders, opposition politicians and academics have been detained for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and opinion. “These developments will not only scare off the very investors the country is trying to attract, but they are also an obstacle to the realisation of economic and social rights,” De Schutter said. “You cannot deliver health care, education or social protection without also improving accountability and transparency.” During his visit, the expert travelled throughout the country and met with people living in poverty. He noted that while Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in reducing overall income poverty, multidimensional poverty remains high and income inequality has increased, particularly in urban areas. “Overall economic progress has been uneven, with groups such as the Adivasi, Dalit, Bede, Hijra and religious and linguistic minorities such as the Bihari left out,” the Special Rapporteur said. “The Government has also carried out evictions in informal settlements under the guise of development, without following due process or providing adequate compensation and rehabilitation – in violation of the right to adequate housing,” he said. De Schutter urged the Government to rationalise its social protection system, which he described as “a patchwork of 119 schemes that emerge on an ad hoc basis, are poorly coordinated and do not provide the level of income security that Bangladeshis should expect”. He expressed concern that the tax-to-GDP ratio was particularly low (at around 7.8 per cent) and that almost two-thirds of public revenue to finance social protection came from indirect taxation, while only one-third came from direct taxation on income. “This should be reversed. It is high-income earners and large businesses that should contribute to the financing of public services and social protection, not consumers,” the expert said. “Social protection programmes should be developed to protect the population from the new and significant risks posed by climate change,” the Special Rapporteur said. He noted that in 2022 alone, 7.1 million Bangladeshis were internally displaced due to riverbank erosion, cyclones, floods, and other disasters, or because their livelihoods were threatened by water salinisation. The mission included a visit to Cox's Bazar, where De Schutter visited the camps that have housed 977,798 Rohingya refugees most of whom fled the genocidal attack in 2017. While paying tribute to the Government of Bangladesh for hosting nearly a million refugees in an already overcrowded country, he deplored the living conditions in the camps. “Until the conditions for repatriation are met, the Rohingya must be allowed to live a decent and dignified life,” the expert said. “The Government of Bangladesh and the international community all have a role to play.” The Special Rapporteur said it was “unconscionable” that international donors had contributed so little to the 2023 Joint Response Plan which calls for $876 million USD to address the urgent humanitarian needs in the camps, only 17% of which is funded. Since March 2023, the World Food Programme has had to cut the value of its food vouchers from $12 USD to $10 USD per person per month, and the value will be further reduced to $8 USD in June. De Schutter warned that malnutrition and undernutrition would increase, with dramatic consequences, especially for children. “Families are growing desperate. If the Government of Bangladesh were to recognise the right of the Rohingya to seek employment and earn an income, as required under human rights law, that would alleviate at least some of the pain,” the expert said. The Special Rapporteur will present his final report on Bangladesh to the Human Rights Council in June 2024. Mr. Olivier De Schutter (Belgium) has been the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights since May 2020. He was appointed by the UN Human Rights Council and is part of the Special Procedures, the general name of the Council's independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organisation and serve in their individual capacity. UN Human Rights Country Page: Bangladesh For more information and media requests, please contact Sakshi Rai (+41 22 917 4258 / sakshi.rai@un.org) For media enquiries regarding other UN independent experts, please contact Maya Derouaz (maya.derouaz@un.org) and Dharisha Indraguptha (dharisha.indraguptha@un.org). Follow the Special Rapporteur: @srpoverty Follow news related to the UN’s other independent human rights experts: @UN_SPExperts

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Press Release

28 May 2023

Newly established Bangladesh Private Sector Working Committee aims to help implement national sustainable development agenda

The establishment of the Bangladesh Private Sector Working Committee (BPSWC) was jointly announced on 28 May by the President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), Md. Jashim Uddin, and the President of Bangladesh Employers Federation (BEF), Ardashir Kabir and the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, Gwyn Lewis. The committee will support the country’s private sector to work together with the Government of Bangladesh, the UN, as well as national and international development organisations, for the advancement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in Bangladesh. The signing ceremony to establish the committee took place at the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Bangladesh and was attended by representatives of the private sector, international organisations, and the Government of Bangladesh, including the Country Director of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Tuomo Poutiainen; the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Bangladesh, Stefan Liller, the Additional Secretary, SDG Affairs, Prime Minister’s Office, Mohd. Monirul Islam, the Adviser Safety Council, FBCCI, Brig Gen (Retd) Abu Nayeem Md. Shahidullah, the Adviser, Trade & Tariff Policy, FBCCI, Manzur Ahmed, and the SecretaryGeneral, BEF. Farooq Ahmed. Welcoming the establishment of BPSWC, the UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, Gwyn Lewis, highlighted the committee’s potential to further the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its plan to link its work with the 2022-2026 UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, signed by the UN and the Government. “When it comes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Bangladesh’s private sector has so much to gain, and so much to give. The UN welcomes the creation of a Bangladesh Private Sector Working Committee, because private sector action on the SDGs is essential to realise the 2030 Agenda, and enable Bangladesh to achieve inclusive sustainable development that leaves no one behind” the UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh said. The President of FBCCI and the Chairman of BPSWC, Md. Jashim Uddin, the President of the Bangladesh Employers Federation (BEF) and the Co-Chairman of BPSWC, Ardashir Kabir, shared their views on the BPSWC’s plans to help private companies support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals. The ILO Country Director for Bangladesh, Tuomo Poutiainen, and the UNDP Resident Representative in Bangladesh, Stefan Liller welcomed the establishment of the committee, adding that the UN agencies are looking forward to working together with the BPSWC for the sustainable development of the country and ensuring smooth transition towards the LDC Graduation. Nineteen representatives of the Bangladeshi private sector companies have been selected to be members of the committee, while the UN Resident Coordinator or delegates of the UN agencies may participate in BPSWC meetings as guests and observers, or on the invitation of the committee’s Chairman.

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Press Release

25 May 2023

Second SDG Cafe roundtable explores challenges and opportunities in decentralised renewable energy in Bangladesh

It is focused on the theme "Challenges and Opportunities in Decentralized Renewable Energy in Bangladesh," took place on May 24, 2023, at the UNOPS Bangladesh premises in Dhaka. The SDG Cafe gathered key stakeholders from the Government of Bangladesh, academia/think tanks, UN agencies, INGOs, Bi-Laterals and multilateral Development partners, and policy advisories. The event fostered insightful discussions and meaningful dialogues, exploring current practices, innovative technologies, policies, and standards related to decentralized renewable energy in Bangladesh, focusing on achieving sustainable development goals. The Keynote speaker for the roundtable, Dr. Ijaz Hossain, former Dean of Engineering of BUET and an esteemed expert in energy and environment, shared his valuable insights and expertise. Dr. Hossain's knowledge further illuminated the challenges and opportunities in decentralized renewable energy, providing a foundation for collaborative efforts toward sustainable solutions. Dr. Ijaz Hossain said, “Bangladesh needs to scale up its use of renewable energy urgently. And to accomplish this, participation from multi-sectoral stakeholders is crucial along with government initiatives.” Distinguished experts from the energy sector and representatives from SREDA, BPDB, EU, World Bank, BBDF, UNDP and the UNRC actively participated in the event, enriching the discussions and contributing their expertise to drive positive change. Commenting on the event, Mr. Sudhir Muralidharan, Country Manager of UNOPS Bangladesh, said: “The second edition of SDG Cafe successfully brought together experts and stakeholders to address the challenges and opportunities in decentralized renewable energy. We believe that by collaborating and innovating in this sector, Bangladesh can make significant strides towards sustainable development. The collective knowledge and insights shared during the event will undoubtedly shape future initiatives.” The SDG Cafe provided an engaging platform for knowledge exchange, inclusive dialogue, and partnership building. The SDG Cafe is part of UNOPS Bangladesh's ongoing commitment to promoting sustainable development in Bangladesh. The event will provide a forum for relevant stakeholders to engage in meaningful discussions and collaborate on effective strategies for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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Press Release

23 May 2023

UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh calls for urgent support following Cyclone Mocha

The United Nations and its partners in Bangladesh appealed for USD 42.1 million today for the Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi communities in Cox’s Bazar who are facing the devastating impact of Cyclone Mocha. The cyclone severely affected all 33 refugee camps and surrounding Bangladeshi villages, leaving thousands desperately in need. The urgent appeal includes USD 36.5 million under the Rohingya Refugee Response to benefit refugees and Bangladeshi communities. Additionally, the UN and its partners seek USD 5.6 million exclusively for Bangladeshi families in Teknaf. The appeal focuses on the urgent needs to replenish contingency stocks, prepare ahead of the monsoon season, and use weather and fire-resistant materials for shelters and facilities that are critical in saving lives. Cyclone Mocha struck the Bangladesh-Myanmar border on 14 May, bringing heavy rains and strong winds. Hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshis and Rohingya were impacted by the cyclone. Shelters built of bamboo and tarpaulin were damaged and destroyed. Many more lost access to clean drinking water and other water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities. Key facilities for education, nutrition, protection, and more were damaged or destroyed. “The cyclone has taken a huge toll on Bangladeshi and refugee communities, even if we missed the eye of the storm,” said Gwyn Lewis, the UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh. “What we need to do is to build back better with weather and fire-resistant materials. Many refugees lost their homes in March due to devastating fires and had just begun rebuilding their lives. They are now rebuilding their shelters once again following the cyclone and are bracing for the monsoons that are around the corner.” Rohingya refugees are particularly vulnerable this year because the 2023 Appeal seeking USD 876 million dollars is only 17% funded as of mid-May. Funding shortfalls, resulting in two ration cuts in March and imminently in June 2023, will decrease food assistance by 33.3%. Other critical programmes and activities are also being cut. “Refugees are not allowed to work and are completely reliant on the international community.” said Lewis, “We desperately need USD 56 million to restore the full food rations of refugees. Now we also need additional support to rebuild the camps after the cyclone and prepare for the monsoons.” The Resident Coordinator acknowledged the Government’s leadership in implementing its sophisticated disaster preparedness and response systems that has saved countless lives in the past years and during Cyclone Mocha. In Myanmar, the humanitarian community also launched today a USD 333 million Flash Appeal to assist 1.6 million people affected by Cyclone Mocha. Media Contacts: In Dhaka: Igor Sazonov, UN Resident Coordinator's Office, igor.sazonov@un.org, +8801321169633 In Cox’s Bazar: Syed Md Tafhim, Inter Sector Coordination Group, tafhim@iscgcxb.org, +8801850018235 and Faik Uyanık, Inter Sector Coordination Group, faik@iscgcxb.org, +8801847421667 For more information please visit rohingyaresponse.org/mocha

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