Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. A. K. Abdul Momen today met with UN-HABITAT Executive Director Maimunah Mohd. Sharif at her office on the eve of the 2nd UN-HABITAT Assembly.

Minister Momen shared progress with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s flagship Ashrayan project to provide free-of-cost houses on government land for the homeless and landless across the country. He invited the Executive Director to visit Bangladesh soon to witness the project and its impact on the beneficiaries. He also briefed UN-HABITAT Executive Director about Prime Minister Hasina’s Amar Bari, Amar Khamar (My Home, My Farm) programme to ensure sustainable living around homesteads. 

Executive Director Sharif recalled her participation at the high-level side-event on the gender-responsive, social housing project in presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in New York in September 2022. She appreciated the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s vision to provide civic amenities in villages through her Amar Gram, Amar Shohor (My Village, My City) programme. She urged Bangladesh to support UN-HABITAT’s upcoming initiatives on slum upgradation and urban housing while assuring of continued financing and knowledge-based support for a sustainable urban future in Bangladesh. 

Minister Momen flagged the critical importance of addressing the issue of providing housing and services to climate migrants in urban areas. He also mentioned the initiative taken by Bangladesh to provide safe and climate-resilient housing to the forcibly displaced Rohingya from Myanmar in Bhashan Char.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to Kenya Tareque Muhammad was present at the meeting.

The 2nd UN-HABITAT Assembly is being held here from 5-9 June 2023 around the theme of accelerating Sustainable Development Goals for a sound urban future amidst multiple global crises. Around 4,000 participants from national and local governments, civil society and media are expected to attend. A Bangladesh delegation comprising representatives from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Housing & Public Works is taking part at the Assembly. During his visit, Foreign Minister also interacted with Bangladesh expatriates based in Nairboi at the High Commission today.