Bangladesh’s internationally acclaimed achievements in child, maternal and reproductive health gives it a unique edge to champion the issue of population dynamics in the post-2015 Development Agenda, said UNFPA executive director Dr Babatunde Osotimehin.He made the remark during a meeting with Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni at her office in the Foreign Ministry.
Dr Osotimehin commended the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for hosting the two-day Global Leadership Meeting on Population Dynamics in Dhaka.
He said Bangladesh’s efforts to implement the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action has been quite progressive compared to many other developing countries.
This, he felt, was one of the reasons why he had visited Bangladesh three times already since assuming office in January 2011.
The Foreign Minister appreciated UNFPA’s continued cooperation with Bangladesh and stressed the need for greater engagement on issues relating to adolescent and migrants’ health.
She said Bangladesh would work together with other UN members and agencies to promote the multidimensional issue of population dynamics in the post-2015 Development Agenda.
The Foreign Minister agreed with Dr Osotimehin that due attention should be given to benchmarking the progress to be achieved on population and development at the international level.
The UNFPA Head lauded Bangladesh’s effective diplomatic efforts to bring these critical development issues to the forefront of global debate and negotiations. UNB
