Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set for a packed schedule during his stay in New York, featuring bilateral meetings, high-level UN events and engagements focused on advancing Bangladesh’s diplomatic and economic priorities, as he has headed to the United States to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
The prime minister, who left Dhaka for New York via Turkey early Monday, is scheduled to arrive at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York in the afternoon local time (Early Tuesday in Bangladesh time). He will stay at the Hyatt Grand Central New York during his visit.
A major focus of the visit will be his first address to the United Nations General Assembly as prime minister. He is scheduled to deliver Bangladesh’s statement at the General Debate of the 81st UNGA on 24 September.
Tarique Rahman will also become the third member of his family to address the world body, following his father, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.
He is expected to deliver his speech in Bangla, outlining Bangladesh’s domestic priorities and its position on major regional and global challenges.
The address will cover Bangladesh’s renewed democratic journey, the rule of law and accountability, global peace and security, climate change, sustainable development and economic cooperation.
Youth and women’s empowerment, education and health, the Rohingya crisis, equitable and inclusive use of modern technology and reform of the multilateral system will also feature in the address.
Earlier, the prime minister, accompanied by his wife Zubaida Rahman and members of his entourage, left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka around 6:07am on a Turkish Airlines flight.
The Turkish fight landed at Istanbul around 11:00am local time (2:00pm Bangladesh time) for a brief stopover, where senior Turkish officials welcomed Tarique Rahman and his wife, PM’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibly told UNB.
During the stopover, the prime minister and members of his entourage went to the VIP lounge, where they had a meal featuring Turkish delicacies, he said.
After the stopover, he resumed his journey for New York. He is expected to arrive at JFK Airport around 5:55pm local time (Bangladesh time 3:55am Tuesday), where the prime minister is supposed to be received by Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Irene Zubaida Khan and Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Tareq Md Ariful Islam.
The prime minister is leading a relatively small, 38-member delegation to the UNGA.
The delegation includes five Cabinet members – Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman, and Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, whose name is on the delegation list but who will preside over the 81st UNGA session.
The delegation also includes State Ministers for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir and Shama Obaed Islam, State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj, Prime Minister’s advisers Mahdi Amin and Rehan Asif Asad, Invest Bangladesh Authority Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Special Assistants to the Prime Minister Tanvir Shahriar Ghani, SM Ziauddin Hyder and Dr Md Saimum Parvez, and Biman Bangladesh Airlines Chairman Rumee A Hossain.
Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam, Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN Irene Khan and Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Tareq Md Ariful Islam are also members of the delegation.
Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibly and Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon are accompanying the Prime Minister.
The high-level General Debate of the 81st UN General Assembly will begin on 22 September and continue through 26 September before concluding on 28 September at the UN Headquarters in New York.
This year’s UNGA carries special significance for Bangladesh as Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman is serving as president of the 81st session of the General Assembly.
During his stay in New York, the prime minister is scheduled to attend a series of high-level events and hold bilateral meetings with heads of state and government on the sidelines of the General Assembly.
Tarique Rahman’s formal engagements will begin on Tuesday with a welcome breakfast reception hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres for heads of delegation.
He will then join the inaugural session of the 81st UN General Assembly at the UN Headquarters.
During the day, the prime minister is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with Maldives Vice-President Uz Hussain Mohamed Latheef and Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay.
He will also meet World Bank Group President Ajay Banga and is expected to hold talks with European Council President António Costa.
Separate meetings are scheduled with senior UN officials, including UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.
On Tuesday evening, Tarique Rahman will attend a reception hosted by US President Donald Trump for heads of delegation and their spouses at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel.
On 23 September, he will attend a breakfast meeting with philanthropic and humanitarian organisations at the Bangladesh Permanent Mission in New York before joining his UN engagements.
The prime minister is also scheduled to meet Boeing Global President Dr Brendan Nelson later in the day.
On 23 September, Tarique Rahman is scheduled to attend a high-level event on the global inequality crisis, a high-level side event on the Rohingya crisis and join a high-level meeting on Climate Action and the Just Transition.
On 24 September, alongside his UNGA address and climate engagements, Tarique Rahman is scheduled to meet UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
On the sidelines of the UNGA, he is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with the Crown Prince of Kuwait and the prime ministers of Croatia, Bhutan, Thailand, Pakistan and Haiti.
On the day, the PM is scheduled to deliver opening remarks at a high-level meeting on threats posed by sea-level rise. He will also attend a Bangladesh-hosted side event on maternal and newborn health and midwifery.
The prime minister is also expected to meet the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar and other senior representatives of international organisations.
Tarique Rahman is scheduled to leave New York for Dhaka on the night of 25 September.
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