the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Communities.
From 2007 to 2009, she was the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations.
Background
She is married to Dr Johannes den Heijer, a national of the Netherlands and Professor of Arabic Language and Literature at the Université Catholique de Louvain in Belgium. Her marriage was the first time a Bangladeshi diplomat has married a non-Bangladeshi citizen.
Education
M.S.S. (Economics), University of Dhaka, 1982.
M A (Law and Diplomacy), Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, USA, 1986.
Visiting Fellow in Foreign Service Program, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, USA 1996 (Certificate with distinction).
Certificate in Spanish Language from the University of California, Berkeley, USA, 1986.
Career
Career diplomat with 26 years of service experience; specialization in multilateral diplomacy with skills in international negotiations and conference diplomacy; area of focus: human rights and humanitarian issues and gender matters. Overseas assignments included postings in the Permanent Missions of Bangladesh to the UN in New York and Geneva. Most recently served as Permanent Representative to UN in New York. Currently, as Head of Mission in Brussels responsible for overall management of the Embassy and spearheading its various activities; articulating strategic and operational plans for implementation of national foreign policy; drafting of policy papers and country statements; representing Bangladesh in various meetings, conference and seminars in the European Commission and the European Parliament; networking with the think tanks and civil society including women’s organisations.Serving in the New York and Geneva Permanent Missions, have long association with gender issues and women’s rights. In this capacity, have participated in many CEDAW meetings (involved in formulation and presentation of Periodic Reports of Bangladesh) and Commission on the Status of Women. Have also contributed to the multilateral process on gender issues at the UN through active participation in the drafting of Conventions, Declarations and resolutions related to the work of CEDAW e.g. UN Convention on the Rights of Child and its Protocols; the Beijing Platform for Action; Convention on Trans-national Organised Crime and its Protocol on Trafficking in Women; SAARC Convention on Trafficking of Women and Children for Prostitution. Associated in the organization of SAARC regional seminar on violence against women (Dhaka 1998); attended Seminar on gender mainstreaming in the LDCs, Cape Town, 2001. UNCTAD Panellist at Special Event
on Gender, 3rd UN Conference on LDCs, Brussels 2001. Delegate to the NAM Ministerial Conference on Women and Development (Havana 1989).