PM off to New York to attend UNGA with 38-member delegation

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman left Dhaka early Monday for New York to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where he is scheduled to deliver his maiden address as prime minister on 24 September.

The Prime Minister, accompanied by his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and members of his entourage, left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 6:07am on a Turkish Airlines flight, Prime Minister's Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon said.

Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, BNP acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni, Prime Minister's Defence Adviser Brigadier General (retd) AKM Shamsul Islam and senior government officials saw the Prime Minister off at the VIP lounge of the airport.

PM Tarique leading 38-member delegation to UNGA

The flight is scheduled to reach Istanbul Airport around 11:35am local time. After a brief transit, the Prime Minister will continue his journey to New York's John F Kennedy International Airport.

He is expected to arrive at JFK Airport around 5:55pm local time.

The Prime Minister will be received at the airport by Bangladesh's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Irene Zubaida Khan and Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Tareq Md Ariful Islam.

He will then be taken by motorcade to the Hyatt Grand Central New York, where he will stay during his visit.

"The Prime Minister is going to New York to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. He will address the General Assembly on 24 September," Rumon said.

The Prime Minister is leading a relatively small, 38-member delegation to the UNGA.

The delegation includes Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman, Prime Minister's Adviser Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Ministers for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir and Shama Obaed Islam, State Minister for Sports Md Aminul Haque and 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, and Prime Minister's Special Assistants Tanvir Shahriar Ghani, SM Ziauddin Hyder and Dr Md Saimum Parvez are also in the delegation.

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 Dr Khalilur Rahman is serving as President of the 81st session of the General Assembly.

The session is being held under the theme, "Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all."

Tarique Rahman's 24 September address will be his first speech at the UN General Assembly since becoming prime minister. He will also become the third member of his family to address the world body, following Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia.

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.

According to the announced programme, he will attend a welcome breakfast hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres for heads of state and government on 22 September, followed by other high-level engagements.

On 23 September, Tarique Rahman is scheduled to attend meetings on global inequality and climate action and join a high-level side event on the Rohingya crisis.

At the event, Bangladesh is expected to seek stronger international cooperation for the early repatriation of forcibly displaced Rohingyas to Myanmar.

On 24 September, the Prime Minister 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.

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.

He is also scheduled to meet UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the President of the European Council, the President of the World Bank Group, the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy on Myanmar and the UN high commissioners for refugees and human rights.

Economic diplomacy will also feature prominently during the visit. The Prime Minister is scheduled to meet senior representatives of Meta, Wall Street and other business organisations.

The discussions are expected to focus on Bangladesh's investment environment, manufacturing, infrastructure, technology, human-resource development and employment opportunities for young people.

Tarique Rahman is scheduled to leave New York for Dhaka on the night of 25 September.

Meanwhile, his visit has generated enthusiasm among BNP leaders, activists and supporters living in New York and other US states.

In recent days, BNP supporters have gathered in Jackson Heights, home to a large Bangladeshi community, holding processions and chanting slogans ahead of his arrival.

Banners, posters and festoons have also been put up at different locations as expatriate Bangladeshis and community groups prepare programmes to welcome the Prime Minister.

Much of the organised activity has been led by leaders and activists of the BNP and its affiliated and associated organisations.

They have held a series of preparatory meetings and coordinated activities in Bangladeshi-populated areas of New York to finalise the welcome programme.

Organisers have also focused on maintaining discipline during planned programmes at the airport and in front of the UN Headquarters.

According to community sources, 34 preparatory meetings have so far been held involving the USA BNP, its affiliated and associated organisations and former party leaders.