Dhaka’s permanent UN envoy slates staff recall, calls for a rethink on service rules

The recall of 12 staff members is going to make the mission suffer, says Bangladesh's Permanent Representative to the United Nations AK Abdul Momen as he called for a rethink of the rules that determine service at the key mission.

The transfer of almost half the Bangladesh mission staff at a time when the country’s role in the world body is increasing could pose a problem, says the senior diplomat.

“Rules have to be followed. But one must consider what impact of the decision to recall 12 officers including the mission’s deputy chief has on the workings,” he said.

Momen spoke to bdnews24.com on the New Year’s Day while outlining the year’s plan.

“Those who will come are likely to lack the experience of working at the UN. It will be some time before they become familiar with the job. How can the pace of work that has been attained be maintained?”

According to rules, officers can stay at the UN mission for a maximum of three years and other staff for four. As their terms are over, 12 members of the staff, including the Deputy Permanent Representative Mostafizur Rahman and First Secretary (Press) Mamun-ur-Rashid.

Mamun is being replaced by the Ministry of Information’s Joint Secretary Bijon Lal Deb, who has been working as the deputy press secretary to the prime minister.

Those connected with the mission say none of the new appointees have any experience of UN work.

Speaking of the challenges ahead, Momen pointed to the task of fixing the SDGs of post-2015 sustainable development.

He said the recall of those who had worked on Bangladesh’s interest in planning the SGDs for the past one year could lead to a waste of efforts.

“Some of them should be retained in the mission in the national interest. But those in charge in Dhaka are attaching greater importance to the wishes of senior officials at the ministry.”

He emphasised Bangladesh’s victory in the elections to 11 international bodies last year and the country’s leadership in a dozen UN organisations, and about 32 forums earlier.

“This year is vital to hold on to these successes and keep Bangladesh associated with the UN plans. But 12 of the mission’s 21 officers and employees are going back at this juncture,” Momen said.

He said a climate change conference is scheduled in Paris this December. An international meet on ‘Funds for Third Development’ is coming up in Addis Ababa in July. There will be a high-level meet on upgrading the programme of the UN peacekeeping mission.

Momen also spoke of several other international meets that are to be held this year.

Among them are a summit on the UN role in the empowerment of women and gender equality in March, and a gathering to resolve differences between the UN and its regional affiliates in April-May.

In June, a summit meeting is planned on ways to combat the effects of climate change. A meeting on migration will be held from Feb 12-13. The five-day 48th session of the Population and Development Commission is due from April 13 to 17.

The South-South Cooperation summit will be held in Dhaka in May. The meet is expected to decide on giving priority to regional issues, including those of Bangladesh, in the post-2015 agenda.

This month, Bangladesh is holding the first regional advisory meeting of the peacekeeping mission of the SDG committee.

This year marks the UN’s 70th anniversary and several programmes have been lined up for the occasion, pushing back the General Assembly meet from Sep 24 to 28.

Momen feels the need for experienced officials to protect Bangladesh’s interests in these programmes.

“This year, we must work with greater vigour than we did last year. Officers have a three-year term, while employees have a four-year stint. This strange arrangement is being followed for many years. But now it must be revised.”

He said, though there were no Bangladeshi official at the UN’s top policy-making level, there were several of them at the mid-level. This, he said, was working to Bangladesh’s advantage.

“I am informed whenever a high-level discussion is planned on some issue. I am thus able to depute experienced officials to work on them.”

The absence of anyone from Bangladesh at the top level of the peacekeeping mission or at the general level, and the lack of proficiency in French were posing a problem, Momen said.

The permanent representative described 2014 as a year of “good fortunes” because Bangladesh contested in the elections of 11 international bodies and won.