The newly appointed United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) representative in Bangladesh, Asa Britta Torkelsson, has formally presented her credentials to Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali at his office in Dhaka.
Accepting the credential letter, the minister congratulated Torkelsson for her new appointment and welcomed her to Bangladesh, says a UNFPA press release issued on Wednesday.
Referring to the long-standing partnership between Bangladesh and the UNFPA, the foreign minister expressed his appreciation for the UN agency’s support and contribution in improving maternal, sexual and reproductive health and gender equality, preventing gender-based violence and child marriage, and aiding development in Bangladesh.
He also highlighted the development progress that is taking place to shift the country’s status from a least developed country to a middle-income country, as well as Bangladesh’s commitment to achieve the UN-mandated Sustainable Development Goals under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
It is to be noted that Torkelsson, a Swedish national, brings with her an extensive and distinguished career in various UN offices all over the world, specializing in the field of women’s empowerment, development economics and international development.