PM to address UNGA during 9-day US visit

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is going to travel to the United States for the 81st UN General Assembly after visits to Malaysia and China.

If plans stay on track, he could leave for New York on Sept 21 before travelling to San Francisco.

Foreign ministry officials said preparations were under way for the nine-day trip, including securing US visas for members of his delegation.

The foreign ministry has formally notified the US embassy in Dhaka through a note verbale.

It will be Tarique's first address to the UN General Assembly as prime minister, officials said. He is also expected to attend several events on the sidelines of the session.

In San Francisco, he is scheduled to meet Bangladeshi expatriates at an exchange meeting.

Tarique's UN appearance will come as Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman takes over as president of the General Assembly on Sept 8.

Meanwhile, discussions over a possible bilateral visit by Tarique to India have not progressed. His Press Secretary Saleh Shibli told Reuters on Friday that Bangladesh had yet to make a decision.    �"bdnews24