State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam met Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women Sima Bahous in New York today. Photo : PID

DHAKA, June 19, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh and UN Women have pledged to strengthen cooperation on women’s empowerment, climate resilience and the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda.

The commitment came when State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam met Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women Sima Bahous on the sidelines of UN engagements in New York on Thursday, according to a press release received here today.

During the meeting, the state minister called for deeper collaboration with UN Women to advance women’s economic empowerment, strengthen climate resilience and promote the WPS agenda.

She recalled the introduction of free education for girls by former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to empower women through free education up to the postgraduate level as well as enhanced reproductive and mental health support.

Bahous highly commended Bangladesh’s achievements in promoting women’s empowerment and gender equality.

She congratulated Bangladesh on its election to the presidency of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly and expressed UN Women’s readiness to further strengthen cooperation with Bangladesh on women’s empowerment and the WPS agenda.

The UN Women chief also praised the significant contributions of Bangladeshi women to peacebuilding initiatives and United Nations peacekeeping operations worldwide.

On the Rohingya issue, the state minister expressed concern over funding shortages affecting Rohingya women and girls. 

Shama reiterated that the repatriation of the Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar remains the only sustainable solution to the protracted crisis.

The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to working closely together to advance gender equality and women’s leadership in peacebuilding and sustainable development efforts.