Dhaka seeks member states’ support for its IOM DDG post candidate

Bangladesh has sought the support of the international community for its candidate in the upcoming election for the position of Deputy Director-General (DDG) of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Bangladesh has floated the candidacy of its Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque for the post.

Bangladesh sought the support during 'Eid Reunion' in honour of foreign diplomats hosted by Bangladesh Permanent Mission in New York on Tuesday.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam said Bangladesh has emerged as a responsible state under the dynamic and pragmatic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Referring to Bangladesh's long and deep involvement with international migration discourse, he said Bangladesh has floated candidacy of its Foreign Secretary for the position of DDG of IOM to continue the legacy, now at the operational level.

He urged the representatives of member states to support Haque.

The State Minister said Foreign Secretary Haque is the Special Envoy on Migration for Prime Minister Hasina and a professional diplomat who has worked for 12 years in IOM.

"If he gets the opportunity to work as a DDG IOM, then this experience can be used to make IOM a more effective organisation for better management of global migration," he said.

The Eid reunion was organised at the Bangabandhu Auditorium of Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the UN in honour of Permanent Representatives and Ambassadors of the member states of the UN.

Foreign Secretary Haque was present in the event.

The re-union turned into a friendly gathering of Permanent Representatives and diplomats of more than 100 countries including India, Japan, Russia, China, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, said a media release on Wednesday.

In his opening remarks, Permanent Representative (PR) of Bangladesh to the UN Ambassador Masud Bin Momen requested fellow PRs to support Bangladesh's candidate.

He also focused on various aspects of the remarkable development trajectory of Bangladesh and urged member states to play an effective role for a permanent solution to the Rohingya crisis.

Haque made a presentation on the latest global situation on migration highlighting the need for effective migration governance for safe, orderly and regular migration.

He also highlighted the various difficulties with regard to human mobility.

Bangladesh Foreign Secretary said that he intends to utilise his long experience of working with IOM and dealing with migration issues for the welfare of the world.

Showcasing the tremendous socio-economic development of Bangladesh, State Minister Alam also thanked the diplomats present for their support to Bangladesh's candidacy for ECOSOC election slated for June 14.

PRs of Bangladesh and Spain were appointed as co-facilitators for the modalities resolution of International Migration Review Forum in December 2018.

Ambassador Momen and the PR of Spain co-facilitated the first round of formal negotiations on the zero draft of that resolution at the UNHQs.

Civilian and Defense officials of Bangladesh working at the UN Headquarters were also present at the event.