DHAKA, Dec 16, 2021 (BSS) - The Unites Nations (UN) has lauded Bangladesh 
for making massive success despite distress and turmoil in its 50 years 
journey as an independent nation.

   The country 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 
Rohingyas, the UN said.

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

   Heads of 17 UN agencies here made the remarks in a letter written to 
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on the eve of the 50th anniversary of 
Bangladesh's independence.

  "On the eve of the 50 anniversary of Bangladesh's independence, as a 
partner of 50 years, we the UN family in Bangladesh celebrate with you the 
achievements of the nation, and honor the legacy of sacrifices that brought 
the country where it is today," they wrote in the letter. 

   They said Bangladesh's achievements in human development especially in 
maternal and child mortality, immunization, 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-recognized in the context of the Millennium Development 
Goals while subsequent achievements in sustained growth and poverty 
alleviation have brought the country to the point of graduating out of LDC 
status, the letter said.

   Bangladesh has also emerged as an example to emulate in the area of 
disaster risk management, it added. 

   Bangladesh has been a vocal advocate for multilateralism, climate justice 
and LDCs while the country sponsored the Culture of Peace resolution that was 
unanimously adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1999, read the letter. 

   Bangladesh is now among the largest troop contributors to the UN's 
peacekeeping missions, it added. 

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

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