The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Dhaka inked an agreement today at the embassy to continue their continuing cooperation for a peaceful and inclusive Bangladesh.
According to a UNDP press statement, the agreement was signed on behalf of their respective organizations by Stefan Liller, the UNDP’s Resident Representative in Bangladesh, and Espen Rikter-Svendsen, the Norwegian Ambassador to Bangladesh. The agreement is valid until 2025.
Since 2021, with support from the Royal Norwegian Embassy, UNDP has been implementing the “Partnerships for a More Tolerant, Inclusive Bangladesh” (PTIB) project. This initiative focuses on preventing hate speech, misinformation, and disinformation to build a more inclusive society in Bangladesh.
During the signing, Espen Rikter-Svendsen remarked: “The Partnerships for a Tolerant, Inclusive Bangladesh (PTIB) project seeks to better understand the sources of violence, involve citizens in spreading positive messages of tolerance and inclusivity, and develop a coherent, context-specific strategy to promote tolerance, diversity and inclusivity.
Stefan Liller, in his remarks, stated, “Through our partnership with Norway, we have mobilised youth and civil society to foster greater tolerance, inclusivity, and diversity. With Norway’s further support, we will continue to promote digital literacy nationwide as well as other issues that can contribute to Bangladesh achieving SDG Goal 16.”
He expressed his gratitude to the Norwegian government for its ongoing assistance in fostering harmony and understanding in Bangladesh.
Attending the signing event were, among others, Sheela Tasneem Haq, a senior governance specialist; Morshed Ahmed, a senior adviser at the Royal Norwegian Embassy; and Marianne Rabe Kn’velsrud, deputy head of mission.
