DHAKA, Sept 07, 2025 (BSS)– Partners in Population and Development (PPD), an Intergovernmental Organization of 27 Developing Countries, located its headquarters in the capital,  has elected its new executive committee for the 2025–2027 term as well as appointed a new executive director for the next three years.

Tunisia has been elected as Chair, Pakistan as Secretary, Zimbabwe as Vice Chair, and Kenya as Treasurer of PPD for the next 3 years while China, Vietnam, Gambia, and Uganda have been elected as members of the Executive Committee, and Bangladesh is the permanent member led by the Advisor to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The new committee has been elected at PPD’s 28th Board Meeting virtually held on Sunday, said a press release.

Bangladesh, hosted the meeting chaired by South Africa.  Nurjahan Begum, Adviser of Health and Family Welfare ministry, attended the meeting virtually from her Dhaka residence as a Permanent Executive Committee Member of PPD.

Bangladesh, as a Permanent Executive Committee member, traditionally practices the role of Election Commissioner of the PPD Executive Committee Election.

Nurjahan Begum chaired the Election Session and conducted the election by attending virtually. Health Adviser played the key role in integrating all the countries for the four leadership positions like chair, vice chair, secretary and treasurer.
 
Nurjahan Begum congratulated the elected leadership and members and wished that the new committee would work for promoting the organization to achieve its objective to promote South-South Cooperation in the field of reproductive health, population, and development. 
She also urged the committee to take a serious lead and make this organization a successful global organization in reproductive health population and development through undertaking its 5 interventions: capacity building, knowledge sharing, technology and commodity transfer and innovation, partnership and global advocacy. 

South Africa, Tunisia, Pakistan, and China appreciated the Health Adviser for her excellent leadership in conducting a smooth and successful election for this global organization of 27 member countries, as well as her continued support to PPD as a permanent member. 

Professor Dr Joseph Adelegan, a Nigerian National, has also been approved as Executive Director of PPD for the next 3 years. He has 30 years of experience in the field of public health, development studies, economics and social infrastructure, environment, and partnership experiences.

Welcoming remarks were made by Jacques van Zuydam, representing the Minister of Social Development, Government of South Africa, as outgoing chair of the PPD Board. 

Zuydam thanked all the members and office bearers of 2021-2023 for their support to chair to fulfil her responsibilities as the chair. China, as outgoing Vice-Chair, also made the remarks thanking all the members for their continued support of PPD. 

Patrick Mugirwa, Officer In Charge of PPD, Saidur Rahman, Secretary of Health Service Division, Dr. Md Sarwar Bari, Former Secretary of Medical Education and Family Welfare Division, Md. Mahbub Alam, Acting Secretary of Medical Education and Family Welfare Division, Jobaida Begum, Additional Secretary, S M Ahsanul Aziz, Joint Secretary, Nazrul Islam, Joint Secretary, and Sainy Azeez, Senior Assistant Secretary of Medical Education and Family Welfare Division, attended the meeting from PPD Headquarters.