The UN congratulated Bangladesh for its massive success in the last 50 years despite turmoil, while committing to support the country in the difficult path ahead.

In a letter to Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on the eve of the Victory Day, heads of 17 UN agencies here said Bangladesh has traversed a long and difficult path from new nationhood devastated by war and famine, to its undeniable influence as a UN member state at the threshold of LDC graduation, providing shelter to 900,000 Rohingya refugees.

"Alongside the distress and turmoil that this journey has entailed, there have been massive successes."

Bangladesh's achievements in human development, especially in maternal and child mortality, immunisation, school enrollment and other social indicators even at relatively lower levels of per capita income made the country an example for other countries to emulate. This was well-recognised in the context of the Millennium Development Goals, they said.

"Subsequent achievements in sustained growth and poverty alleviation have brought the country to the point of graduating out of LDC status. Bangladesh has also emerged as an example to emulate in the area of disaster risk management," the letter said.

Stating that the UN has been a partner of Bangladesh for five decades now, it said Bangladesh too has been an active member state in the UN since 1974 and has shaped the UN's development and peace operations.

"Bangladesh was one of the early supporters of the UN Development System Reforms and contributed to the Special Purpose Trust Fund for the Resident Coordinator system.

"It has been a vocal advocate for multilateralism, climate justice and LDCs. Bangladesh sponsored the Culture of Peace resolution that was unanimously adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1999. It is now among the largest troop contributors to the UN's peacekeeping missions."

On the eve of the 50 anniversary of Bangladesh's independence, they said the UN family in Bangladesh celebrate the achievements of the nation, and honor the legacy of sacrifices that brought the country where it is today.

At the same time, they said the path ahead is long and difficult. The country must recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, achieve the 2030 Agenda of leaving not one person behind, enhance gender equality, end poverty and become a developed nation.

The UN in Bangladesh is committed to supporting the Bangladesh government in every step of the way to achieve these ambitious goals, the letter said.