PM joins opening session of 81st UN General Assembly

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today (22 September) joined the General Debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

He joined the session around 9am local time after attending a welcome breakfast hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres for heads of delegation and their spouses, said Prime Minister's Assistant Press Secretary Md Nazmul Haque Khan.

At the breakfast, Tarique Rahman, accompanied by his wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, joined other world leaders and their spouses for a photo session with Guterres and his wife. He also exchanged greetings with the UN secretary-general and his wife.

The General Debate was chaired by the president of UNGA 81st session and Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir and Bangladesh's Permanent Representative to the UN Irene Khan were seated beside Tarique Rahman, while State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, Prime Minister's Adviser Mahdi Amin and Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam were seated behind him.

Tarique is leading a 35-member delegation to the UNGA.

The high-level General Debate of the 81st UNGA began on Tuesday, with US President Donald Trump scheduled to address the General Assembly on the first day.

Tarique Rahman is scheduled to address the General Assembly on 24 September, his first address to the world body as prime minister. He is expected to deliver his speech in Bangla.

Alongside the UNGA sessions, the Prime Minister is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings and high-level engagements with heads of government of several countries and leaders of international organisations during his brief visit to New York.