(BSS) - Education Adviser Professor Dr Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar has said being elected as the President of the 43rd General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a major achievement for Bangladesh in international diplomacy.

"Being elected as the President of the 43rd General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a major achievement for Bangladesh in international diplomacy,"
he said in an exclusive interview with Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) here today.

It is a great opportunity for Bangladesh to lead an important UN body like UNESCO in the existing global situation by defeating a powerful country like Japan, Prof Abrar added.

The education adviser said several heads of state and heads of delegations and ministers congratulated Bangladesh at the conference.

He said the western countries and African and Arab countries congratulated Bangladesh.

Prof Abrar said the soft power and Bangladesh`s own cultural heritage, especially International Mother Language Day, have played a vital role in achieving this leadership.

Overall, he said, Bangladesh has created a position there.
Bangladesh was elected as the president of the 43rd UNESCO General Conference through vote at the 222nd session of the UNESCO Executive Board held in Paris on October 7 last.

Bangladesh won against Japan by a margin of 30-27 votes. South Korea and India were also candidates for this position. But, later, the two countries withdrew their candidacies.

This triumph is being seen as a major diplomatic success and cultural esteem for Bangladesh. The UNESCO General Conference is a major platform for determining policies related to education, science and culture in the world, and it is a prestigious achievement for any country to be given the responsibility of presiding over it.

The 43rd UNESCO Conference began on October 30 at the Silk Road Conference Center in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. It will continue till November 13. For the first time, as a Bangladeshi, Education Adviser Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar presided over the meeting.

The education adviser returned home on November 7 after attending the UNESCO conference in Uzbekistan.

Besides, Bangladesh`s permanent representative to UNESCO Khondker M Talha and representatives from different countries were present at the conference.