Honorary Consul of Ireland in Bangladesh and Cosmos Group Deputy Managing Director Masud Jamil Khan and his wife Kate Jaro Khan hosted a reception on Sunday evening at their residence in the capital’s Baridhara, welcoming a visiting delegation from Irish Aid and its partner organisation Concern Worldwide.
The reception brought together diplomats, development professionals, civil society representatives, and prominent figures from various sectors.
Irish Aid, the Government of Ireland’s official development assistance programme under the Department of Foreign Affairs, supports global efforts to reduce poverty, promote gender equality, address climate change impacts, and strengthen governance and peace-building in developing nations.
Distinguished attendees at the ceremony included Cosmos Foundation President and former Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Caretaker Government Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, CPD Honorary Fellow Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, Canadian High Commissioner Ajit Singh, WildTeam CEO Professor Dr Md Anwarul Islam, UNB Editor Mahfuzur Rahman and others.
In his welcome remarks, Masud Jamil Khan said, “Concern Worldwide has been working in Bangladesh since the 1970s. The presence of the Irish Aid team here is a significant step and an indication of more good things to come.”
Photo: Tahiyat Nazifa Noor/UNB
Highlighting the global role of Irish Aid, he added, “They are present in over 30 countries, working to improve lives through support for aid, gender equality, climate vulnerability, food and nutrition, health, and peace.”
He noted that while Bangladesh had experienced a mix of progress and uncertainty over the past year, the visit of the Irish delegation brings hope. “I’m always here to provide full support,” Honorary Consul Masud Jamil Khan said.
Emma Warwick, Deputy Director of the Humanitarian Unit, Development Co-operation and Africa Division at the United Nations and Development Specialist at Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs, said the visit provided an important opportunity to deepen understanding of the work being done in Bangladesh.
“We’ve partnered with Concern Worldwide for many years. This is a great opportunity to understand the context in Bangladesh more deeply,” she said.
Photo: Tahiyat Nazifa Noor/UNB
“Humanitarian needs, gender equality, climate change and human development are central to Ireland’s international development policy,” Warwick added. She also appreciated the opportunity to engage with other partners such as UNESCO during the visit.
Fearghal MacCárthaigh, Development Specialist with Irish Aid, shared that their mission includes field assessments in Dhaka, Cox’s Bazar, and northern Bangladesh.
“Our focus is on evaluating programs supported under the Irish Civil Society Partnership for a Better World (ICSP),” he said. “We aim to understand how these initiatives are benefiting communities, ensure transparency, and bring insights back to inform our work globally.”
Bangladesh is one of 49 countries currently receiving support under ICSP, a five-year initiative (2023–2027) designed to fund Irish civil society organisations delivering long-term development and humanitarian aid across the globe. In 2024, approximately €100 million has been allocated under ICSP, including €9.9 million specifically for climate finance.
Ireland has also contributed €6.5 million to the UNHCR since 2019 in support of the Rohingya crisis, benefiting both refugees and host communities. In 2023, Concern Worldwide allocated €1.56 million for resilience-building programmes in Cox’s Bazar, which increased to €1.7 million in 2024.