UNFPA proud of Bangladesh's success in health, social sectors

UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid calls on Prime Minister Khaleda Zia at her office in the city yesterday. PHOTO: PID

Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, also UN Under Secretary General, made the remarks when she had a courtesy call on prime minister at her office.

The UNFPA boss cited primary and women education, reduction of infant and maternal mortality rates, population, rural and urban health, immunisation, sanitation and gender parity as the sectors wherein the country attained remarkable successes.

She said the population agency of the United Nations, which has support to many programmes in Bangladesh, is very grateful for its wonderful success in such a good number of fields, particularly girl's education.

"We are proud of it," Thoraya was quoted as saying. She remarked that they often project Bangladesh's successes as examples for others to emulate.

UNFPA has allocated 40.5 million US dollar to Bangladesh for country programme action plan 2006-2010, according to an official.

Khaleda said her government has given top priority to education, particularly women's education, which kept positive impact on a number of fields like reproductive health, women empowerment, anti-dowry measures, gender parity, and population.

"The objective of all the programmes is to improve quality of life of people, and progress has been made to that end," Khaleda said.

Both the PM and the UNFPA executive director expressed identical sentiment about working together to further improve the quality of life of people.

Khaleda thanked the UNFPA top executive for its support to Bangladesh and hoped that the help would continue.

UNFPA country representative Sunita Mukharjee was present.