Exploring Bangladesh’s UN partnership: Strategic opportunities for future growth
As Bangladesh is near its 50th anniversary of working with the United Nations in 2024, it’s time to look back on this nation’s progress and plan. In 1974, Bangladesh joined the UN and has made many notable progress. In 1971, this nation was considered one of the poorest countries. But now it is a notable player on the global stage. IN 2021, the United Nations recognized this progress and made a big announcement. They removed this nation from the Least Developed Country list.
Currently, the interim government, led by Nobel laureate Prof. Dr. Muhammad Yunus, is the leader of this nation. He guides the country through important changes, paying attention to improving governance, transparency, and citizen involvement.
Everyone across the world is looking at the actions of this government. For this reason, they need to present a clear plan at the 2024 United Nations General Assembly.
In this way, Bangladesh gets support from the global leaders and investors that help this nation to continue its growth and development.
Bangladesh and UN partnership
Bangladesh has not fully used its strong relationship with the United Nations General Assembly. No doubt that the country has made progress in many fields but its involvement with the United Nations has been limited. This limitation has prevented Bangladesh from involving big global discussions, especially on topics such as international laws, trade, and security.
Instead of just focusing on immediate problems, Bangladesh should take a more strategic approach to strengthen its influence. The country has not fully used UN resources for improving governance, technology, and industrial growth. Its economy still heavily relies on the garment industry, while other nations have grown by diversifying into more advanced industries.
To be more competitive, Bangladesh must move into higher-value industries. By doing so, it can improve its diplomacy, increase its global influence, and meet its long-term development goals.
Bangladesh is a nation that is highly affected by climate change. Despite this fact, it has not made most of its position to secure financial help from global leaders. Although it has been active in the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), its involvement in climate talk is very limited, especially under the UNFCCC. In the COP29, 2024 event, Bangladesh has an opportunity to participate in the climate talks and make investments in renewable energy, sustainable farming, and eco-friendly manufacturing, which fit with global trends.
Similarly, while Bangladesh is one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping missions, it hasn’t used this to influence global peacekeeping policies. Its focus has mostly been on contributing troops rather than shaping peace strategies. Bangladesh can strengthen its international role by pushing for the safe return of Rohingya refugees and advocating for better global rules to protect displaced people. By focusing more on South-South cooperation, such as sharing technology and boosting regional trade, Bangladesh could become a leader among developing countries and help improve ties within the less-connected South Asian region.
If Bangladesh wants to strengthen its economic competitiveness and tackle future challenges it should focus on investing in different important areas. It includes agriculture, healthcare, and the digital economy. However, the UN programs support these sectors, and Bangladesh must align with United Nations programs. In this way, a nation can increase its technological capabilities.
Additionally, Bangladesh has yet to fully capitalize on UN initiatives to drive innovation in manufacturing and infrastructure, areas that are vital for sustainable growth.
One of the big challenges for Bangladesh is Urbanization, because of its increasing population. The cities of this nation are growing quickly, and the country is having trouble keeping up. This becomes the reason for many complexities such as poor infrastructure and environmental damage. If Bangladesh wants to resolve these problems, it should work more closely with the UN to make better city growth plans. The nation should invest in smart city technology, improve how cities are planned, and ensure that they are ready to tackle the climate challenges. These steps are important for building cities that can grow sustainably and handle future challenges.
Bangladesh’s 50-year partnership with the UN is a moment not just for reflection but for forward-thinking. By learning from missed opportunities, the country should create more effective strategies for utilizing UN support. Strengthened cooperation will be key to building a prosperous and resilient future, positioning Bangladesh as a stronger global player.
