By: Sudhir Muralidharan
For more than two decades, the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) has been a trusted partner of the Government of Bangladesh and the country’s development stakeholders, delivering practical solutions that strengthen institutions, enhance resilience, and support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By integrating global expertise with national priorities, UNOPS has sought to contribute to a future that is inclusive, sustainable, and leaves no one behind.
Health has been at the center of this partnership. With support from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, UNOPS has designed, constructed, and equipped 29 medical-grade oxygen plants across the country. These facilities, complemented by training for operational staff, have considerably expanded the country’s emergency preparedness capacity and ensured a reliable supply of life-saving oxygen for hospitals and clinics. Building on this foundation, UNOPS recently signed a US$1.6 million agreement with the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) to establish a climate-informed disease surveillance and early warning system. This initiative will strengthen Bangladesh’s ability to anticipate and respond to health threats that are increasingly shaped by climate change.
In Cox’s Bazar, through the US$6.4 million Health and Gender Support Project, UNOPS is working with national partners to improve access to healthcare, nutrition, and protection services, with a particular focus on women and vulnerable groups. The project has also enabled the delivery of essential diagnostic equipment, medicines, and supplies ―including critical support for tuberculosis treatment.
In peace and security, UNOPS is helping strengthen Bangladesh’s role in international peacekeeping. With funding from the Elsie Initiative Fund, we are overseeing the construction of a modern residential facility at the Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operations Training (BIPSOT). This new accommodation for female peacekeeper trainees reinforces Bangladesh’s commitment to gender equality and opens more opportunities for women to contribute to global peace operations.
Partnerships are central in our approach. Together with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Housing and Building Research Institute (HBRI), we recently launched an eco-innovation training programme to help small and medium-sized enterprises adopt environmentally sustainable construction materials and production techniques.
We are also creating spaces for dialogue, through our “SDG Café” platform. On International Youth Day this year, young leaders, innovators, and policymakers joined to exchange ideas on advancing clean energy and climate action in Bangladesh. These conversations give space for youth to drive the national and global solutions for tomorrow.
Taken together, these initiatives highlight the scale of UNOPS contribution to Bangladesh’s development journey: strengthening health systems, increasing resilience in crisis-affected areas, advancing gender equality, and empowering youth and entrepreneurs to contribute to sustainable growth. Above all, they strengthen national institutions to sustain and expand these gains over the long term.
As Bangladesh’s efforts move forward fulfilling Vision 2041 along with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, UNOPS will continue to support our partners in the country to implement projects, and deliver for communities where it is most needed.Our commitment remains clear: provide practical solutions in close collaboration with government institutions, development partners, civil society, and communities to deliver results that make a tangible difference in people’s lives.
As Bangladesh Post celebrates its 10th anniversary, I extend my warmest congratulations. In a rapidly changing world, responsible and ethical journalism plays a vital role in shaping informed, inclusive and sustainable societies. It is more important than ever. Together, we look forward to sharing more stories of resilience, innovation, and sustainable impact in the years to come.
The Author: Sudhir Muralidharan, Country Manager, UNOPS Bangladesh and Bhutan
