UN Resident Coordinator, Gwyn Lewis, has said that Bangladesh's achievements in human development and disaster response, long before it became a middle-income country, made it an example for other countries to emulate.

In a message congratulating Bangladesh on the 51st anniversary of the victory, she said the country has been on an extraordinary voyage from being a war and famine-ravaged newborn nation, to its current standing as a UN member state standing at the threshold of LDC graduation, and providing shelter to nearly a million Rohingya refugees.

She said Bangladesh too has contributed to shaping the UN's development agenda and peace operations globally. Bangladesh has also been a vocal advocate for multilateralism, climate justice and the interests of least developed countries.

Bangladesh sponsored the Culture of Peace resolution that was unanimously adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1999. And it was thanks to Bangladesh's advocacy that the UN General Assembly recognized the International Mother Language Day in 2008, Gwyn Lewis said.

Bangladesh's advocacy internally for the rights of the most vulnerable, and its constitution illustrates the country's determination to be a democracy in which fundamental human rights and freedoms and respect for the dignity and worth of the human person shall be guaranteed.

The UN has been a partner of Bangladesh since its birth. Starting with UNHCR in 1971, 22 UN agencies now have operations in the country.

On the eve of the 51st anniversary of Bangladesh's independence, the UN stands with Bangladesh in partnership and wishes all Bangladeshi nationals, in the country and abroad a very happy Victory Day.

"Wishing everyone a happy Victory Day!"