Bangladesh assumes UNHCR executive committee leadership role

Bangladesh has assumed the chairmanship of the Bureau of the Executive Committee (ExCom) of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for the first time, marking a significant milestone in the country's multilateral diplomacy.

Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and other International Organisations in Geneva, Ambassador Nahida Sobhan, formally assumed the role of Chair of the four-member ExCom Bureau yesterday, according to a message received here today (17 June). 

Bangladesh has never before served in the Bureau since the operationalisation of the UNHCR Executive Committee in 1959.

Bangladesh emerged as the unanimous candidate of the Asia-Pacific Group and was formally seconded by Algeria and Austria, representing different regional groups. 

Ambassador Sobhan's nomination was subsequently endorsed by all 110 member states of the Executive Committee.

The election reflected the confidence of the international community in Bangladesh's leadership and its growing role within the multilateral system, the message said. 

A career diplomat, Ambassador Sobhan previously served in Bangladesh missions in Rome, Kolkata and Geneva and as ambassador to Jordan and high commissioner to Canada. 

She also served as Director General of the United Nations Wing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and worked closely with UN agencies, including UNHCR, on the Rohingya response.

The message said Bangladesh's assumption of the chairmanship carries particular significance as the country continues to host around 1.3 million forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar while advocating for their safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable repatriation.

Bangladesh assumed the role at a critical time for the global refugee protection system, amid record levels of displacement, rising humanitarian needs and growing funding constraints.

The chairmanship is widely seen as international recognition of Bangladesh's constructive leadership on humanitarian and forced displacement issues and its commitment to international cooperation and burden-sharing.