UNHCR appoints new chief in Dhaka

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the UN refugee agency, has appointed a new chief in Dhaka. Steven Corliss, the newly appointed UN official, has said that the refugee agency will extend full support to Bangladesh concerning the Rohingya crisis.

The UNHCR Representative Steven Corliss stated this during his meeting with Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen upon presentation of his credentials yesterday. Corliss becomes UNHCR's 10th Representative in a partnership with Bangladesh that dates back to 1971.

After taking up his new role, Corliss said, “The Government and the people of Bangladesh have shown remarkable solidarity and generosity to Rohingya refugees. As UNHCR's Representative, I will devote my full efforts to support the Government in protecting, and finding lasting solutions for the refugees, as well as to addressing the impact on the host communities in Cox's Bazar.”

Corliss, a national of the United States of America, brings more than 30 years of experience with UNHCR in diverse assignments around the world.

Welcoming Steven Corliss, the foreign minister highlighted Bangladesh's ethos of putting humanity above all. He mentioned Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's courageous decision of hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas, said a Foreign Ministry press release.

The minister stated that the protracted presence of the Rohingyas in Bangladesh might threaten the peace and stability of the region and beyond. He urged the international community, including UNHCR to put utmost effort into the early repatriation of the Rohingyas with dignity and safety.