M Golam Abbas, after a distinguished career of 37 years, retired in 2016 from UNHCR - The UN Refugee Agency as the Country Representative in Sri Lanka. The only Bangladeshi, served twice (2013 and 2018) as UNHCR interim Country Representative in Bangladesh. Also held a number of senior positions with the UN, inter alia, Representative, Thailand; Deputy Regional Representative in Central Europe (covering Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia); Head of East & Horn of Africa Desk at UNHCR HQs (covering Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda); Head of Operation Darfur, Sudan; Assistant Chief of Mission, Iran; Deputy Representative, Liberia; Senior Emergency Coordinator, Saudi Arabia; Head of Offices in Somalia & Tanzania; and Senior Advisor, Ethiopia and Senior Advisor with the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in Bangladesh.
Contact Info:
+ (44) 782 169 2495
+(880) 173 9290 549
golam.abbas@gmail.com
About Me:
Education & Training
Served as UN Designated Officer for staff and operational safety & security in several countries; represented UN/UNHCR at numerous regional and global thematic fora on the topics of peace & reconciliation, conflict resolution, human rights, elimination of sexual exploitation & abuse, investigation, fraud detection & prevention, procurement & supply chain management, elimination of statelessness, staff welfare & mentoring, people oriented planning and training of the trainers. Served twice in the UNHCR global board of Appointment, Promotion & Placement.
Prior to joining the UN, served as an Associate Economist in the Ministry of Local Government & Rural Development; and Deputy Director/Project Manager, Ministry of Youth Dev., Government of Bangladesh.
Mr. Abbas obtained a BA (Hons.) and MA in Economics from
Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh.
Currently engaged in a number of philanthropic work (e.g., library, education, social inclusion/rural justice, food security & livelihood activities) in Bangladesh. Also managed jointly a psycho-social/mental health project (Oct. 2017 – March ’19) with “Action Against Hunger” – a French NGO, for the Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar. Manages a MHPS project for Rohingya refugees with the funding from Beyond Conflict – British Charity organization.
Membership
- Board of Trustee, Acid Survivors Foundation, Bangladesh;
- Founder Global Development Consortium,UK/Bangladesh;
- Member, Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network, Thailand.
- Local Representative of Gruppo Umana Solidarity/Italian Ministry of Interior (an EU initiative to support
rehabilitation/reintegration of Bangladeshi migrants, who have opted to return home voluntarily);
- President, Jahangirnagar University Economic Alumni Association; Bangladesh.
- Life Member, Association of Former UN Staff in Bangladesh;
- Life Member, Probin Hitoshi Shangho (Aged Welfare Association) Bangladesh; and
- Founder of Education Care School/Library, Cumilla, Bangladesh.