NEW YORK: United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday highly appreciated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for maintaining stable situation in Bangladesh.

He also expressed hope that the progress of Bangladesh would continue through this stability.

The UN secretary general came up with the appreciation when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called on him at his suite at the UN Headquarters here in the morning.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, PM’s Media Advisor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury said the meeting was held in a very cordial environment.

Ban Ki-moon congratulated Bangladesh and the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Bangladesh's membership to the UN.

He lauded the contribution of Bangladeshi peacekeepers to the UN peacekeeping missions.

The UN secretary general requested the Prime Minister to send more helicopters to the UN peacekeeping missions.

In reply, Sheikh Hasina said: “We will try to send more helicopters.”

Ban Ki-moon also lauded Bangladesh’s tremendous achievements in the field of education and said that “education is the key to success”.

He eulogized the lively participation of the Bangladesh delegation including the Prime Minister, ministers and other members in different sessions of the UN General Assembly.

The Prime Minister thanked the UN secretary general for making success the programme of the 40th anniversary of Bangladesh’s membership to the UN.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN Dr AK Abdul Momen were present on the occasion.

** BD advancing under Hasina’s leadership

BDST: 2125 HRS, SEP 27, 2014