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PoliticsUN chief Guterres appoints Bangladeshi diplomat Rabab Fatima as new UNAMA head
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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed senior Bangladeshi diplomat Rabab Fatima as his new Special Representative for Afghanistan and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). Fatima, who currently serves as Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), succeeds Roza Otunbayeva of Kyrgyzstan. She brings over 30 years of experience in national and international civil service, including serving as Bangladesh's Permanent Representative to the UN from 2019 to 2022. During her tenure, she served as President of the UNICEF Executive Board in 2020 and the UN-Women Executive Board in 2022, and became the first woman elected Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission in 2022. Fatima also served as Bangladesh's ambassador to Japan from 2016 to 2019 and held diplomatic assignments in New York, Geneva, Beijing, and Kolkata. She holds a master's degree in international relations and diplomacy from Tufts University and a bachelor's degree from the University of Canberra.
Source report
She served as Bangladesh's Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 2019 to 2022
Published: July 16, 2026 10:19 pm IST | Source: United Nations / PTI
A senior Bangladeshi diplomat has been appointed as head of the United Nations mission in Afghanistan.
Rabab Fatima, the former Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations, has been appointed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres as his new Special Representative for Afghanistan and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
Ms. Fatima currently serves as Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS). She succeeds Roza Otunbayeva of Kyrgyzstan, according to a statement from the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on Wednesday.
Experience and Background
Ms. Fatima brings to her position at UNAMA "over 30 years of experience in national and international civil service, encompassing bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, policymaking, advocacy, programme planning and implementation," the statement said.
Key Roles at the United Nations
- Served as Bangladesh's Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 2019 to 2022
- President of the UNICEF Executive Board (2020)
- President of the UN-Women Executive Board (2022)
- Vice-President of the Executive Board of the UN Development Programme, UN Population Fund, and UN Office for Project Services (2021)
- First woman elected Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission (2022)
- Vice-President of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly (2022)
Diplomatic and International Service
- Ambassador of Bangladesh to Japan (2016–2019)
- Director-General in Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2015–2016)
- Diplomatic assignments in Bangladesh's missions in New York, Geneva, Beijing, and Kolkata
- Regional Adviser for South and South-West Asia and Regional Adviser for Climate Change and Migration at the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) (2012–2015)
- Regional Representative for South Asia at IOM (2007–2011)
- Head of Human Rights at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London (2006–2007)
Education
- Master's degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, United States
- Bachelor's degree in Social Science from the University of Canberra, Australia
Languages
Ms. Fatima speaks Bangla and English, and has a working knowledge of Hindi and Urdu.
Source
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Neutral / independent
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Bangladeshi diplomat Rabab Fatima appointed head of UN mission in Afghanistan