Bangladesh's Rabab Fatima made UN under-secretary general

Bangladesh's Rabab Fatima has been made the UN high representative for the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing states (UNOHRLLS).

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres issued the appointment of the female diplomat from the Bangladesh Foreign Service. 

Through the appointment, any such Bangladeshi person, for the first time, has been made UN under-secretary-general.

Also, Fatima will be the highest ranking person in the UN as a Bangladeshi citizen.

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

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.

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.

She is the current ambassador and permanent representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations in New York, reports UNB. 

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).

She joined diplomatic service in 1989 and served in various capacities in MoFA and Bangladesh Missions in New York, Kolkata, Geneva and Beijing.

Fatima holds a masters degree in international relations and diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, and a bachelors degree in social science from the University of Canberra, Australia.