DHAKA, March 11, 2024 (BSS) - Resident Coordinator of the United Nations (UN) Gwyn Lewis had a meeting with ICC Bangladesh President Mahbubur Rahman at ICC Bangladesh (ICCB) Secretariat in the city on Sunday.
 
Gwyn Lewis was briefed about the activities of ICC HQs and ICC Bangladesh as well as discussed challenges to be faced by Bangladesh after graduating to Middle Income country in 2026, said a press release.
 
Mahbubur Rahman mentioned that the relationship between Bangladesh and the United Nations started during the initial stage of Bangladesh's liberation war in 1971.
 
He also mentioned that Bangladesh has set out an ambitious journey path to transform into a Smart-Bangladesh High-Income Country by 2041, as delineated in its Perspective Plan (2021-2041).
 
The plan for achieving the vision – the Perspective Plan 2021-2041 – defines targets: achieving Upper-Middle Income Country Status and eliminating extreme poverty by 2031, and eradicating poverty altogether while achieving High-Income Country status by 2041, he added.
 
As part of this trajectory, he said, Bangladesh has fully committed to achieving the SDGs, and embraced the Secretary-General’s call for a “Decade of Action” to accelerate progress toward the achievement of the 2030 Agenda.
 
ICCB President urged the UN Resident Coordinator to extend all out assistance and cooperation to Bangladesh to overcome challenges after LDC graduation.
 
He said that UN agencies have been supporting the government in various projects in the field of sustainable development solutions, poverty alleviation, disaster management, peace, good governance, police reform, human rights, environment, climate change, reproductive health, family planning etc.
 
“Over the next five years, progress towards this ambitious political, economic, and social development vision will be delivered through the 8th Five Year Plan. This medium-term development strategy comes at a time when Bangladesh looks to promote a strong and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, sustain and build on its economic growth, and put the country on track to achieve the SDGs, Middle Income Country Status, and the elimination of extreme poverty by 2030/31,” he noted.
 
Gwyn Lewis said that United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (“Cooperation Framework”) represents the UN development systems’ collective response to support Bangladesh in addressing key development priorities and challenges to the achievement of the objectives of the 8th Five Year Plan leading to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda, its SDGs, and the Perspective Plan for 2041.
 
The UN look forward to working jointly with the International Chamber of Commerce Bangladesh in addressing various development issues, she added.