Bangladesh elected to lead UNHCR executive committee bureau for first time

Bangladesh is represented by Nahida Sobhan, Bangladesh ambassador to Geneva

Bangladesh has been elected chair of the bureau of the Executive Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for the first time.

Bangladesh Ambassador Nahida Sobhan, who is also the permanent representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations office and other international organizations in Geneva, assumed the position on Tuesday.

In a media statement, the Bangladesh Mission in Geneva said Bangladesh had never previously served on the Executive Committee bureau since the it began operations in 1959.

The mission said the bureau is a four-member leadership body that provides guidance to the Executive Committee and helps build consensus among member states on global refugee and forced displacement issues.

According to the statement, Bangladesh’s inclusion in and leadership of the Executive Committee bureau for the first time marks a significant milestone for the country on the international stage.