Bangladesh in UN Women committee

Bangladesh is now the vice-chair in the executive council of UN Women.

This UN body is meant to lift the lot of women and ensure gender equality across the globe.

Besides Bangladesh, three other countries have been elected vice-chair from Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe,

The UN Women committee's terms are for three years. Denmark's permanent representative to UN IB Peterson is its chairperson.

"This is a recognition of the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in taking forward the cause of female empowerment and education in Bangladesh," said AKM Momen, Bangladesh's permanent representative at the UN.

That is why, he said, Bangladesh has been taken into the 41 member UN Women Committee, that includes 10 African and many Asia-Pacific countries. Four are from Eastern Europe, six from Latin America and the Carribbeans and five from West Europe and other countries.

Six other countries that fund the UN Women are also on its executive council.

UN Women came into existence in July 2010 following a decision in the UN General Assembly.

Last year, Bangladesh won places in 12 prestigious global bodies including chairman of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, president of Inter-Parliamentary Union, members of International Telecommunication Union, and the Human Rights Council.