PM attends UNGA opening, delivers speech tomorrow 

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday morning joined the high-level General Debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the General Assembly Hall of the UN Headquarters in New York. He will deliver his speech at the UNGA session tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon. 

Upon entering the Assembly hall, the Prime Minister greeted the President of the 81st session of the UNGA, Dr Khalilur Rahman, before taking his seat. Khalilur, Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister, was elected president of the 81st session of the UNGA on June 2, securing 99 votes in a contested election.

In his UNGA speech, the Prime Minister will present before the world community his vision for Bangladesh’s future, ways to safeguard the country’s interests, uphold people’s rights and ensure inclusive development, Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) spokesperson Mahdi Amin said on Monday.

The Prime Minister on Monday  arrived in New York on a five-day visit. A Turkish Airlines flight carrying him landed at John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport at 6:20pm local time. At the airport, Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Irene Khan and Bangladesh’s Ambassador to the United States Tareq Md Ariful Islam welcomed the Prime Minister. 

A large number of leaders and activists of US BNP and its affiliated organisations, along with expatriate Bangladeshis, gathered at JFK Airport and in front of the hotel to welcome the Prime Minister. Leaders and activists came from various states carrying banners, posters and festoons. The airport area became vibrant with various slogans and applause.

Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Zahidul Islam Rony told the Daily Observer that issues such as Bangladesh’s democratic journey, rule of law, accountability, global peace and security, climate change, sustainable development, economic cooperation, women and youth empowerment, education and health, the Rohingya crisis and reform of the multilateral international system may receive prominence in the Prime Minister’s UNGA session speech.

This will be Tarique Rahman’s first address at the United Nations. His father, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, and mother, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, also represented Bangladesh at the United Nations General Assembly in the past. 

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has several bilateral and multilateral meetings scheduled during his five-day visit. On Monday, he attended a breakfast reception for heads of state and government hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres. His wife Dr Zubaida Rahman attended the reception, where the UN secretary-general exchanged greetings with them.

He later attended the opening ceremony of the United Nations General Assembly.

On  Tuesday, the Prime Minister will hold a breakfast meeting with representatives of international charitable and humanitarian organisations. He will participate in a high-level side event on the Rohingya crisis and a discussion titled “Climate Action and Just Transition.”

On the same day, he is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovi and meet Dr Brendan Nelson, President of Boeing Global, as well as attend a signing ceremony for an agreement.

On September 24, alongside his address to the United Nations, the Prime Minister will deliver opening remarks at a high-level meeting on the threat posed by rising sea levels. He will hold meetings with Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. He is also scheduled to speak at a high-level event on preventing avoidable maternal and newborn deaths.

On September 25, the Prime Minister will hold a breakfast meeting with representatives of Wall Street, hold a bilateral meeting with Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and attend a luncheon with Prince Zeid Al Hussein, President of the International Peace Institute. He will later exchange views with US BNP leaders.