Dhaka Bureau: Heads of various UN agencies will visit Dhaka on the occasion of 50 years of relations. The visit begins with Amy Pope, Director General of the United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM). IOM Director General is visiting Bangladesh today (May 5). Immigration and Rohingya issues will be prominent during Amy’s visit.
According to sources in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, IOM Director General will visit Bangladesh from May 5–9. Amy will begin her tour by visiting a Rohingya camp in Cox’s Bazar.
A diplomat from Dhaka said that we are celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations with the United Nations. As a part of this, efforts are being made to bring the heads of various UN organizations to Bangladesh as much as possible. It may not be possible to bring all the heads of the organization. But as many as can be brought or they visit Bangladesh (that is being tried). The tour starts with the IOM DG (Director General). Some are also scheduled to arrive in the middle and end of this month. We will try to bring in someone throughout the year.
Diplomatic sources say that the executive director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) will visit Dhaka in the middle of this month. Natalia Kanem. Besides, Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka at the end of this month.
When asked what issues will be highlighted during the IOM Director General’s visit, a senior diplomat said they work on migration. That means the visit will focus on immigration issues. They are working with us mainly on return and integration. In this case, the focus of their work here has become to bring back the people who are trapped in Libya or other places. IOM is also trying to bring Bangladeshis from the Balkans. Their job is to help return Bangladeshis; they are more engaged in this matter. There is an opportunity to discuss immigration issues in meetings with stakeholders.
Apart from immigration, Amy’s visit will focus on the financing of the Rohingyas, the diplomat said, and the Rohingya issue will be their focus. IOM DG will go to Cox’s Bazar. He is actually supposed to bring some donors with him. There is the issue of Rohingya funds.
IOM is supporting the diaspora policy that Bangladesh is working on. Diaspora issues may come up during Amy’s visit. In addition, the IOM chief plans to publish this year’s World Migration Report from Dhaka.
It is known that during the visit to Dhaka, IOM Director General Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Dr. Have a courtesy call on Hasan Mahmud. Amy will also hold a meeting with State Minister for Expatriate Welfare and Foreign Employment Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury.
It should be noted that on October 1, 2023, Amy Pope took over the role of IOM Director General. She became the first woman director general in the 73-year history of the organization. Prior to joining IOM, Amy was Senior Advisor on Immigration to US President Joe Biden. Prior to that, he was Deputy Homeland Security Advisor to former US President Barack Obama.
It is to be noted that in 2017, the then Director General of the International Organization for Migration, William Lacy Swing, visited Bangladesh.
