DHAKA: UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova praised Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her commitment to women empowerment and girls` education.

She made the appraisal while talking to journalists at the inauguration of the exhibition organized to celebrate International Women`s Day at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

Irina Bokova recalled her visit to Bangladesh two years ago and praised the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in promoting women empowerment and girls` education.

She also appreciated the quality of artworks of Bangladeshi women artists displayed at the exhibition.

The exhibition, organized under the theme Challenges and achievements in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals for Women and Girls, brought together artworks of leading women artists from eight countries--Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Benin, Bulgaria, Canada, Peru and Russia - representing the status of women in various regions of the world.

Rokeya Sultana and Kanak Chanpa Chakma, two eminent women artists from Bangladesh, have been selected to represent Asia-Pacific region with their 11 paintings.  

Ambassador Shahidul Islam, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to UNESCO, was present at the inauguration ceremony as one of the co-organizers of the events.

UNESCO DG Irina Bokova visited Bangladeshi paintings at UNESCO exhibition on the occasion of International Women`s Day.

BDST: 1625 HRS, MAR 08, 2014