Dhaka, Bangladesh (CU)_ Saida Muna Tasneem, Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, has been named the Diplomat of the Year 2022 by London’s Diplomat magazine for her exceptional work in climate diplomacy.
The magazine’s editor, Venetia de Blocq van Kuffeler, presented the prize to Saida Muna during an annual ceremony at London’s Biltmore Mayfair. More than 250 diplomats residing in London attended the event. The magazine’s annual ‘Diplomat of the Year’ award is presented based on nominations and votes made by UK envoys from over 165 countries with resident embassies in the United Kingdom.
According to a statement from the high commission, this is the first time a Bangladeshi diplomat has earned such honor in the United Kingdom. According to the statement, Venetia said, “High Commissioner Saida Muna Tasneem was recognised for her outstanding contributions and leadership in championing climate diplomacy in London in the lead up to the COP26 as well as for her sustained initiatives to strengthen Bangladesh-UK diplomatic relations”.
Upon receiving the award, Saida Muna dedicated the prize to the millions of climate migrants and the victims of climate calamities in Bangladesh and around the world. She expressed pride over the recognition. She said, “It is a great honor for me and my country to receive this recognition, especially in climate diplomacy.” She added, “I owe this award to our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who has given me the opportunity to showcase Bangladesh’s climate diplomacy in London during the crucial year of COP 26 and Bangladesh’s Climate Vulnerable Forum Presidency.”
According to her, Hasina was not just the voice of the vulnerable community and a highly powerful climate leader at COP26, but also a role model and an educator in their pursuit of climate diplomacy education.
