UNHCR Representative in Bangladesh Sumbul Rizvi has said she is here to continue strengthening the close cooperation with  humanitarian and civil society partners, working hand in hand with the government to ensure the wellbeing of Rohingya refugees and affected local communities.

Upon taking up her new role, Rizvi said, "It's an honour and a privilege to assume my role as UNHCR's Representative in a nation celebrated for its profound humanitarian heart, sheltering close to a million refugees."

"Rejoining efforts to provide assistance to, and find solutions for, Rohingya refugees fills me with enthusiasm," she mentioned.

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Rizvi, an Indian national, brings more than 35 years of experience in human rights and humanitarian work and as litigating counsel in Indian courts, NGO advisor and with the United Nations, said the UN Refugees agency on Tuesday.

She has served with UNHCR in diverse operations including - Iraq, Afghanistan, and Darfur-Sudan. She also established emergency response and humanitarian coordination mechanisms in Syria and Kyrgyzstan during the early stages of the conflict.

Rizvi has also served as UNHCR’s Policy Adviser on Asylum and Migration during the Mediterranean crisis, working with the Global Migration Fora and on the Sustainable Development Goals.

She presented her credentials to Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Monday.

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Rizvi arrived from UNHCR headquarters in Geneva after a successful tenure as the Principal Advisor on Internal Displacement to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

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