Bangladesh has assumed the role of Chair of the Bureau of the Executive Committee (ExCom) of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for the first time.
Ambassador Nahida Sobhan, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations Office and other International Organisations in Geneva, took up the position, marking a milestone in the country’s international engagement, said a press release.
Since the ExCom’s operationalization in 1959, Bangladesh has never before served in the Bureau, the four‑member leadership body that guides the Committee’s work and builds consensus on global refugee and displacement issues.
Bangladesh’s unanimous nomination within the Asia‑Pacific Group was seconded by Algeria and Austria and endorsed by all 110 ExCom member states.
Ambassador Nahida, a career diplomat, has previously served in Rome, Kolkata, Geneva, Jordan and Canada, and as Director General of the UN Wing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
She worked closely with UN agencies on the Rohingya response and served as Member Secretary of the National Task Force on Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals.
The appointment reflects recognition of Bangladesh’s leadership on humanitarian and displacement issues, particularly as it continues to host about 1.3 million Rohingyas from Myanmar.
Bangladesh assumes the chairmanship at a time of record global displacement, rising humanitarian needs and funding shortfalls, bringing the perspective of a country that has shouldered significant responsibility while advocating for international solidarity and burden‑sharing.
