Nov. 8 — Sabine Magdalena Lauber, the newly designated Chief of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Mission in Bangladesh, formally presented her credentials to State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.
Lauber assumes leadership as the inaugural head of the country mission, which was formally established under a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Government of Bangladesh and the OHCHR in July 2025.
Welcoming the new mission chief and congratulating her on assuming the post, State Minister Kobir reiterated Bangladesh’s commitment to sustained, constructive collaboration with the UN rights agency. Kobir emphasized key administrative priorities, including consolidating democratic norms, strengthening good governance and the rule of law, and safeguarding fundamental liberties—particularly freedom of expression and press freedom. He further underlined the administration’s focus on building resilient state institutions through comprehensive legal and administrative reforms.
During the diplomatic exchange, Kobir highlighted Dhaka’s regular cooperation with UN Special Procedures Mandate Holders, reviewing arrangements for upcoming high-level visits by the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar and the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education.
The State Minister urged the OHCHR country office to ensure that its institutional programs and initiatives closely align with the government’s governance and development priorities, extending full executive cooperation and institutional support to Lauber throughout her diplomatic tenure.
In response, Lauber commended Bangladesh’s constructive partnership with the multilateral body, reaffirming the OHCHR’s mandate to assist national efforts in promoting and protecting human rights while strengthening statutory institutions. Outlining her operational priorities and planned programs in Dhaka, she stressed the vital need for continuous dialogue, transparency, and institutional cooperation with the government.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Official Diplomatic Briefing, Dhaka