PM's first UNGA day reflects diplomatic, economic priorities: Mahdi

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has attended 10 scheduled programmes on his first day at the 81st United Nations General Assembly, covering Bangladesh's diplomatic, regional, humanitarian and economic interests, said his Adviser and Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Spokesperson Mahdi Amin yesterday (22 September).

Briefing reporters at the Bangladesh Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, Mahdi said the day's engagements covered multilateral, regional and bilateral issues, the Rohingya crisis and development cooperation.

He said the Prime Minister began the day by attending a breakfast hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres for heads of delegation and their spouses before joining the opening session of the UN General Assembly's high-level General Debate.

At the regional level, Tarique Rahman held meetings with the prime minister of Bhutan and the vice-president of the Maldives, while he also held bilateral meetings with the prime minister of Haiti and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir said the meetings focused on strengthening Bangladesh's relations and partnerships with the countries concerned, including cooperation in areas of common interest.

He said the meeting with the Turkish President covered the two countries' comprehensive partnership, including defence, investment and cooperation at international and multilateral forums.

"The Prime Minister of Bhutan also discussed the special relationship between the two countries and ways to further strengthen the partnership," Kobir said.

On the Rohingya crisis, Mahdi said the Prime Minister held separate meetings with UNHCR representatives and the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy on Myanmar to discuss the safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar.

He also held a meeting with World Bank Group President Ajay Banga, discussing Bangladesh's development priorities and ways to strengthen the partnership with the global lender.

After the meeting, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said the World Bank agreed to support Bangladesh in dealing with external economic shocks related to oil, gas and supply-chain disruptions, as well as expanding support for youth entrepreneurship and employment programmes.

Mahdi said the Prime Minister's engagements also included discussions with international development partners and representatives of the technology sector.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said a high-level team nominated by the Prime Minister held talks with Meta in his absence due to time constraints.

"As Bangladesh has a large number of Meta users, the discussions covered the company's relationship with Bangladesh and issues related to the country's digital platforms," she said.

Of the 12 programmes scheduled for the first day, the Prime Minister could not personally attend two due to time constraints — meetings with the European Council and Meta, Mahdi said.

He said the Prime Minister's engagements demonstrated the government's efforts to put Bangladesh's interests and the interests of its people at the centre of its international engagements.

Bangladesh's Permanent Representative to the UN Irene Khan, Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN AKM Wahiduzzaman, Prime Minister's Press Secretary Saleh Shibly, Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon, Deputy Press Secretary Jahidul Islam Rony and Assistant Press Secretary KM Nazmul Haque Khan were present at the press briefing.

Tarique Rahman is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Thursday, delivering his first speech at the world body as prime minister.