Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s engagements on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly have focused heavily on securing international support for a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis, while discussions with international partners have highlighted Bangladesh’s economic and diplomatic priorities.
Tarique held separate meetings yesterday (23 September) with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi and Julie Bishop, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar, to discuss the prolonged Rohingya crisis.
During his meeting with Bishop, Tarique stressed the need for international cooperation to ensure the dignified return of Rohingyas and find a sustainable solution to the crisis.
With Grandi, he discussed creating conditions conducive to safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation and called for stronger and more coordinated international efforts.
Grandi appreciated Bangladesh’s humanitarian role in hosting the Rohingyas and underscored the importance of continued international cooperation. The two sides also stressed the need to maintain humanitarian assistance and strengthen efforts to expedite repatriation.
The issue was also featured prominently in a high-level side event later at the UN headquarters titled “The Rohingya Crisis: A Renewed Call for a Durable Solution from Protracted Displacement, with Justice and Accountability”.
Tarique proposed five urgent measures to resolve the protracted Rohingya crisis, saying, “The time has come to move from empathy to a search for root causes and their solutions, from promises to action and from managing displacement to ending it”, reports UNB.
The proposals call for a roadmap for safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation; ending violence and guaranteeing rights and security; predictable humanitarian support; stronger justice and accountability; and greater international cooperation against human trafficking, digital scams, illegal arms, the narco-economy and other transboundary crimes.
Bangladesh hosts over 1.2 million Rohingyas and needs international support, he said. Bangladesh and The Gambia co-convened the high-level side event, with other partners joining as co-sponsors.
Türkiye and Kuwait are representing the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), respectively, at the event.
The prime minister is scheduled to deliver Bangladesh’s statement at the General Debate of the 81st UN General Assembly today, his maiden address to the world body as prime minister.
Biman set to sign deal for 11 more Boeing aircraft
UNB reports from New York, Biman Bangladesh Airlines is set to sign an agreement with US aircraft manufacturer Boeing to acquire 11 additional aircraft during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to the UN.
The agreement was scheduled to be signed at 4:15pm (local time) yesterday at the prime minister’s residence in New York in the presence of senior Bangladesh and US officials.
“Congratulations to Boeing and Biman on the agreement to purchase 11 more of the world’s best commercial planes. Another win-win for the US-Bangladesh relationship!”, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T Christensen wrote yesterday in a post on his verified X handle.
In April, Bangladesh signed a deal with US aircraft manufacturer Boeing to buy 14 planes for its national carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the two sides announced – the airline’s biggest-ever order, in a deal valued at $3.7 billion.
Bangladesh is likely to sign the latest deal to purchase an additional 11 Boeing aircraft, according to sources at the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry.
Biman Chairman Rumee A Hossain is expected to sign the agreement on behalf of the national flag carrier. Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir are scheduled to attend the signing ceremony, according to the PM’s programme schedule.
Brendan Nelson, Senior Vice President of Boeing and President of Boeing Global, is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on the prime minister.
Türkiye talks focus on trade, investment
Tarique held a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the Turkish House in New York.
The two leaders discussed expanding cooperation in trade, investment and the economy, and exchanged views on regional and international issues. They stressed continued cooperation and coordination and agreed to strengthen Bangladesh-Türkiye relations and explore new areas of cooperation based on mutual interests.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir said the meeting covered cooperation in defence, investment, and international and multilateral forums
World Bank to support against energy shocks
Tarique also met World Bank Group President Ajay Banga to discuss Bangladesh’s development priorities and partnership with the global lender.
Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said the World Bank had agreed to support Bangladesh in dealing with external economic shocks linked to oil, gas and supply-chain disruptions, while expanding support for youth entrepreneurship and employment programmes.
Tarique also met Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman to discuss public health, child healthcare, vaccination, affordable vaccines, preventive healthcare and modernising the health system.
They also discussed expanding healthcare services at upazila and district levels, recruiting and training 100,000 health workers, creating international employment opportunities for trained healthcare professionals and developing an AI-integrated digital public healthcare system.
At a breakfast meeting, Tarique also met representatives of the Gates Foundation, Visa Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, International Rescue Committee and Rotary International. Discussions covered humanitarian assistance, climate change, sustainable development, technology-driven initiatives and partnerships for Bangladesh’s social and economic development.
PM, Gates Foundation CEO discuss public health
Prime Minister Tarique held a meeting with Gates Foundation Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Suzman yesterday at the Prime Minister’s hotel residence in New York, said Prime Minister’s Assistant Press Secretary KM Nazmul Haque.
During the meeting, they discussed public health, child healthcare, vaccination, affordable vaccines, preventive healthcare and modernisation of the health system, reports BSS.
They also exchanged views on expanding healthcare services at upazila and district levels, recruitment and training of one lakh health workers, international employment opportunities for trained healthcare professionals and plans to develop an AI-integrated digital public healthcare system.
Wide-ranging diplomatic engagements
Tarique attended 10 of 12 scheduled programmes on his first day at the UNGA, according to PMO Spokesperson and Adviser Mahdi Amin.
He could not personally attend meetings with the European Council and Meta due to time constraints, with a high-level team representing him at the Meta meeting to discuss the company’s relationship with Bangladesh and digital platforms.
He also met representatives from Bhutan, the Maldives and Haiti to discuss bilateral relations and cooperation in areas of common interest. His programme included a high-level meeting on climate action and a just transition.
Tarique and his wife Zubaida Rahman attended a dinner hosted by US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for UNGA leaders and their spouses, following a breakfast hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
At a breakfast meeting with representatives of the Gates Foundation, Visa Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, International Rescue Committee and Rotary International, discussions covered humanitarian assistance, climate change, sustainable development, technology-driven initiatives and partnerships for Bangladesh’s social and economic development.
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