The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, and the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) jointly organized a breakfast meeting on the “Declaration of the World Rural Development Day” at the CIRDAP secretariat on 22nd February 2024. Ambassador Mr. Masud Bin Momen, Foreign Secretary (Senior Secretary), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh, presided over the meeting.
The Heads of Missions of the High Commissions/Embassies of the Member States of CIRDAP in Dhaka gracefully attended the meeting to discuss the draft resolution titled “Declaration of the World Rural Development Day” to be tabled at the UN General Assembly.
Dr. Cherdsak Virapat, the Director General (DG) of CIRDAP, welcomed the distinguished ambassadors, high commissioners, and their representatives and expressed his gratitude toward them. He briefly discussed the importance of a day like World Rural Development Day.
In his opening remark, Ambassador Mr. Masud Bin Momen expressed that the proposed UN General Assembly Resolution on the declaration of ‘World Rural Development Day’ can be part of a coordinated strategy to demonstrate the shared commitment to leaving no one behind in our rural areas. He also said that this could be a collective appreciation to CIRDAP by internationally earmarking the date it was established, i.e., 06 July, as the ‘World Rural Development Day.’
Ambassador Mr. Masud Bin Momen requested ambassadors and high commissioners in Dhaka to sensitize the respective Capitals and Permanent Missions in New York about the draft Resolution. He said it would be ideal if all CIRDAP Member States could co-sponsor the draft Resolution and table it as a collective undertaking.
At the meeting, Prof. Dr. Mohammed Helal Uddin, Director of Research, CIRDAP, made a Presentation on World Rural Development Day, and Ms. Hurain Jannat, Communication Officer, CIRDAP provided a short presentation along with a quick glimpse on the World Rural Development Day Portal. After the presentations, Mr. Faiyaz Murshid Kazi, Director General (Multilateral Economic Affairs), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh, presented the draft Resolution.
The meeting ended with a fruitful and interactive open discussion by the honorable attendees and with the closing remark of Ambassador Mr. Masud Bin Momen. He thanked the ambassadors and high commissioners for their contributions and support.

Contact:
Ms. Hurain Jannat
Communication Officer, CIRDAP
Email: communication_officer@cirdap.org