Dhaka: Bangladesh national cricket team captain for ODI and T20I Mashrafe Bin Mortaza was appointed by the UNDP as its National Goodwill Ambassador for Youth in Bangladesh.  

UNDP Bangladesh Resident Representative Robert Watkins handed over the official appointment to Mashrafe at a press conference in a city hotel on Thursday.  

The Tiger captain expressed his commitment to work for the youth in reaction to the appointment.

‘I believe we need to do more to help our youth shine,’ he said.

Mashrafe, the Narail Express, stressed that the Bangladeshi youths need inspiration from all public figures to engage their talent and potential and he want to utilise his time to work for this, after cricket.  

Expecting a powerful voice from Mashrafe in UNDP initiatives, Watkins said: ‘We hope that as the UNDP National Goodwill Ambassador, Mashrafe will support us in bringing youth to the forefront of Bangladesh development efforts.’

Mashrafe now will work closely with UNDP to advocate for youth employment in Bangladesh to assist in the country’s efforts in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDS).  

Mashrafe who lead Bangladesh cricket in many historical wins is one of the more popular public figures in Bangladesh.

Mashrafe became the 4ht Bangladeshi cricketer as an UNICEF Ambassador after the world famed all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, former Bangladesh captains Mohammad Ashraful and Habibul Bashar Sumon.  

Shakib adorned the position in September 2013 along with actress Arifa Zaman Moushumi and Magician Jewel Aich.  

Ashraful and Habibul Bashar shared the honourary seat in the year 2005 with country’s former celebrity table tennis player Zobera Rahman Linu.  

Goodwill Ambassadors are prominent individuals from the fields of arts, sciences, literature, entertainment, sport or other fields of public life who have expressed their desire to contribute to the promotion and realization of the ideals enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.