NEW YORK: Robert Watkins has been appointed as new resident representative of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Bangladesh.

He will arrive in Dhaka on his assignment by February.  

Bangladesh Permanent Mission to UN informed that Robert Watkins has already started taking preparation to take his new office in Dhaka.

As per of the preparation, he met Dr AK Abdul Momen, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh Mission to UN, on Friday.

In the meeting at Bangladesh Permanent Mission to UN, they discussed different issues on socio-economic development of Bangladesh. 

During the meet, Dr AK Momen highlighted overall development of Bangladesh and also remembered UNDP’s contribution in the development.

He also expressed hopes that as new resident representative, Watkins will contribute more during his tenure in Bangladesh. 

Bangladesh Mission Minister (economic) Barun Dev Mitra and UNDP officers were present during the time.

Earlier in his career, Watkins worked for the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Office, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and other international organizations.  He has been posted both in headquarters and in the field, serving in Gabon, Sudan, Iraq, Turkey, the Dominican Republic and Jordan prior to joining the United Nations.

A citizen of Canada, Watkins holds a Master of Arts degree in international relations from the Carleton University School of International Affairs and a Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of Toronto.

Born in Canada in 1955, Mr. Watkins is married and has three children.

BDST: 1108 HRS, FEB 07, 2015