Rabab Fatima appointed as UN under-secretary-general

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the UN Rabab Fatima as high representative for the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing states (UNOHRLLS).

Through the appointment made on Thursday, a female diplomat from the Bangladesh Foreign Service, for the first time, has been made UN under-secretary-general, according to a press release received in Dhaka on Friday.  

Fatima will also be the highest ranking person in the UN as a Bangladeshi citizen, it added. 

Her appointment is a reflection of Bangladesh's close participation in the international arena and the acceptance of Bangladeshi professional diplomats, said the Bangladesh Mission in the UN. 

Fatima replaces Courtenay Rattray of Jamaica who was appointed as chef de cabinet. 

About her appointment, Ambassador Fatima said, "I am grateful to the prime minister. She gave me this opportunity. She appointed me as the permanent representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations with confidence and trust in me."

Ambassador Fatima brings to the position more than 30 years of experience in national and international civil service, encompassing bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, policy-making, advocacy, programme planning and implementation.

"I am grateful to the UN secretary-general. I would like to reflect on the deep trust and confidence that the UN secretary-general has placed in me by appointing me as the high representative of the least developed countries, developing countries and developing small island states," Fatima said.

Earlier, Fatima was the ambassador of Bangladesh to Japan (2016-2019), director-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2015-2016), regional representative for South Asia (2007-2011) and regional adviser for South and Southwest Asia and regional adviser for climate change and migration (2012-2015) of the International Organization for Migration, Geneva, and head of human rights at the Commonwealth Secretariat, London (2006-2007).

Source: BSS