XUNICEF News and Views

  As expected!! Important aspects of this election were that it was fair and free, people could exercise their rights to universal adult franchise without fear and intimidation!! Only the coming days and months will tell if people's aspirations will be fulfilled!! Shafiq Beaming with pride, a group of young women voters, who just cast their ballots for the first time, pose for a celebratory photo outside Dhanmondi Girls’ High School polling centre yesterday. Photo: Orchid Chakma A woman's message to the government we just elected Author: Naziba Basher Publication: The Daily Star Date: February 14, 2026 Click here for the article Summary: For the first time in her adult life, the author stood in a voting line that felt real, with no predetermined result and no hollow theatre of democracy. This generation practiced citizenship rather than performed it, making a calculated choice rather than a romantic one. Voters faced a choice between politics that openly imagines a future wh...

  First, warm congratulations to the people of Bangladesh for reclaiming their democracy through peaceful elections. And gratitude to Prof. Muhammad Yunus for steering the country to this peaceful, safe landing despite enormous challenges.  This seems like a fair assessment of Muhammad Yunus by David Bergman.    I believe Yunus was the right person to lead Bangladesh at a difficult historic juncture, and, on balance, he discharged his responsibilities wisely and fairly.  In politics, it is impossible to please everybody. In a highly polarized domestic context, where he faced the hostility of elements of the Hasina-led Awami followers (who had hounded him viciously earlier), and the highly exaggerated media diatribes from neighboring India, Yunus kept his composure and equanimity. Like Thailand's Anand Panyarachun, history will remember Yunus as a historic transitional figure in Bangladesh.  Regardless of what Yunus decides to do next, my respect for hi...

Dear All Hope you are doing well. Let me take this opportunity to share with you the following news:

Shared by Sharif Alam Click here for the article Summary   Saima Wazed, the newly appointed WHO Regional Director for South East Asia (SEARO), has been placed on indefinite leave by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as of Friday, July 11, 2025. This decision follows months of mounting pressure after Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed charges against her in March for alleged fraud, forgery, and abuse of power. The allegations include misrepresenting her academic credentials during her campaign, particularly claiming to have held a teaching role at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, and improperly using her influence to secure $2.8 million in funding from the Ministry of Social Welfare for the Shuchona Foundation, where she serves as chairperson. Despite the gravity of the charges, WHO had initially defended Wazed’s appointment. However, the situation escalated when Bangladeshi courts issued a travel ban and an arrest warrant for her, ...

I am pleased to share with you that on 25 January 2025 Annual General Meeting of AFUNSOB (Association Of Former UN Staff Of Bangladesh) was held at UNICEF Bangladesh Country office JPG conference room. 

Greetings from Dhaka and belated Happy UN Day 2024.  Thanks and regards Masood from Dhaka. ........ Celebrations of UN Day 2024 and 50th anniversary of Bangladesh membership at UN, jointly organized by UN Retiree Association of Bangladesh (AFUNSOB) and St. Joseph International School, Dhaka, Bangladesh

post shared by Niloufar Pourzand View this post on Instagram A post shared by UNICEF Bangladesh (@unicefbangladesh)

A small note in connection with observance of the International Day of Elderly Persons 2004 here in Dhaka by the Association of Former UN Staff Of Bangladesh (AFUNSOB) with some photos for your information.  Thanks and regards. Masood from Dhaka, Bangladesh. On the occasion of the observance of the Day of Older Persons 2024 on 01 October 2024, AFUNSOB organized a discussion session at UN WFP conference room, Dhaka. About 20 AFUNSOB members participated in the event. The theme of the day was "Ageing with Dignity". SG's message was read out on the occasion and the discussion was centered around the significance of the day. Two older poor persons, one female and another male, were honoured with gifts and small cash allowance by AFUNSOB. Also on 02 October 2004 at the WHO country office Dhaka, in collaboration with its South East Asia Regional office, New Delhi organized a WEBINAR for the AFUNSOB members. WHO Country Director presided over the session. Several AFUNSOB and W...

Instagram post shared by Niloufar Pourzand View this post on Instagram A post shared by United Nations Geneva (@ungeneva) On Thursday the Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh announced the visit next week of the UN experts' team, the first time the UN has sent a fact-finding mission to Bangladesh since its independence in 1971 to investigate widespread human rights abuses in the country Bangladesh transition an “historic opportunity” for inclusive governance anchored in human rights and rule of law – Türk UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Friday said the transition in Bangladesh was an historic opportunity to ensure governance is anchored in human rights, inclusivity and rule of law, stressing the need for accountability for all those responsible for human rights violations and violence. “The transition ahead presents an historic opportunity to reform and revitalize the country’s institutions, to restore fundamental freedoms and civic space, and...

Dr. Yunus, the Nobel laureate, was sworn in on 8 August, 2024 as the leader of the caretaker government in Bangladesh. The president and the Bangladesh army chief played pivotal roles in making sure the interim caretaker government is in charge. The world watched as the political crisis in Bangladesh unfolded. The students uprising over the quota system was the last straw. Discontentment over the years was building up and it exploded. Quota system, as explained in a nutshell in Mahboob Shareef bhai's recently published article in XUNICE blog is as follows: "In 1972, Sheikh Mujubur Rahman (father of the nation) created quota for freedom fighters, and rape victims of Pakistan military.  After his assassination in 1975, quota was extended to women, people from underdeveloped areas, ethnic minorities. Over the years, the number of freedom fighters to avail the quota reduced as they grew older left the workforce or died. Hasina's government wanted to extend the quota to the ch...

Great news Media has reported that our dear old friend and champion of the poor, Yunus has assumed leadership of Bangladesh. I join the millions to wish him success in restoring the freedom rights of his compatriots and moving his great country forward. Hopefully, this country will become a beacon of liberty for all Islamic countries. Baquer

It's a mass uprising led by young students of Universities and Colleges which was later joined by school students, their guardians, and gradually by the general public. The initial movement demanded the government to reform the quota system in public service jobs. (In 1972, Shiekh Mujibur Rahman, the father of the nation, created quota for freedom fighters, and rape victims of Pakistani military. After his assassination in 1975, quota was extended to all women, people from underdeveloped areas, ethnic minorities. Over the years, the number of freedom fighters to avail the quota reduced as they grew older, left the workforce or died. Hasina's government wanted to extend the quota to the children and grandchildren of the freedom fighters which the general population feared would lead to corruption and nepotism––benefiting only her party members. Students protested––and the students' uprising began resulting in the current political crisis). The students' movement demand...

A video message by three coordinators of Bangladesh students' movement proposes Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mohammad Yunus as head of the interim government of Bangladesh. Will he be asked? Will he accept? I hope he will consider it. A good example is that of former Thai Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun who accepted to be interim PM for a short period (twice) and gave up power after organizing elections. Anand became immensely popular during his short tenure and was known as "Mr. Clean". Kul Click here for the article   a See also Microcredit Pioneer Muhammad Yunus to Lead Caaretaker Government  shared by John Gilmartin and published in the Wall Street Jounal The Remarkable Downfall of Bangladesh’s Iron Lad y shared by Baquer Namazi and published in Foreign Affairs. Baquer added this comment, "Hope the military will not emulate the role it took in Pakistan."

Dear All  Hope you are doing well. We retirees are also doing well here in Bangladesh. I want to use this opportunity to update everyone on recent interactions between our UNICEF Bangladesh retirees group and both the UNICEF Bangladesh Staff Association and the Global Staff Association.  - On 24 May 2024 I met Francoise Chandler, GSA Chair in NY and had a fruitful discussion on staff issues on how best Staff Association can help on staff welfare in the organisation. I emphasized how active retired staff can work together at the central, regional and country level for the welfare of all staff. I presented to her the memoir by our memoir of UNICEF Bangladesh retirees, "We Were There".  I also handed over a copy of the memoir of the Association of former UN Staff of Bangladesh (AFUNSOB) Memoir and 2 copies of AFUNSOB last newsletter".  Francoise then presented me a GSA Tee shirt and a memento. We ended our meeting with a lunch hosted by the GSA chair. - On 24 June the...

In my latest memoir, My University of the World: Adventures of an International Film & Media Maker, I tell the story of the creation of Meena, a role model for girls' education, health, protection, and all child rights in South Asia. In 1990, after becoming the Chief of Communication for UNICEF in Bangladesh, I brought together a great team to create Meena—entertaining, well-researched, multimedia stories that engaged children, parents, and whole communities. Meena ran regionally for 20-25 years and continues today in Bangladesh, 32 years after launching—part of the culture now. Today, “Meena Day” is still celebrated annually in Bangladesh on September 24th, and I continue to get weekly messages from young adults, both women and men, throughout South Asia, thanking UNICEF and mentioning how these stories influenced them in their childhoods. Children and adults around the world can be entertained and educated. See more details, play the cartoons, and read the comic book episodes...

Article shared by Ellen Tolmie

XUNICEF blog readers may have missed some photos of Jim Grant’s first visit to Bangladesh in 1980.  Click here to see the article . which, for me, was like jumping from the frying pan right into the furnace. I had only joined UNICEF a few weeks before he and Liv Ullmann, a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, arrived. If I looked a little overwhelmed, I had reason !

Article shared by Tom McDermott Patients suffering dengue fever at a hospital in Dhaka.  credit :Mahmud Hossain /AP Click here fort the original article in the Guardian

  Sad news in Camp 5 at Cox’s Bazar. 3,500 children homeless & 1,500 losing out on learning because their classrooms were destroyed by last night’s fire. @UNICEFBD is on the ground with partners providing shelter, protection and working to get classrooms operational. Read more 👇 https://t.co/Q1sURG1QjI — Sam Mort (@SamMort9) January 8, 2024 View this post on Instagram A post shared by Norwegian Refugee Council (@nrc_norway)