Prime Minister Tarique Rahman began a busy schedule at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Tuesday, attending a welcome breakfast hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the opening of the General Debate.
The prime minister joined the opening session at the UN Headquarters in New York at 9am local time, accompanied by senior government officials, said his Assistant Press Secretary KM Nazmul Haque.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the opening session, which was chaired by UN General Assembly President and Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman.
The 81st UNGA session is being held under the theme “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers for All”, with the General Debate focusing on major global challenges and international cooperation.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will deliver Bangladesh’s statement at the General Debate on Thursday, marking his maiden address to the United Nations as prime minister.
He is expected to highlight Bangladesh’s positions on global peace and security, climate change, sustainable development and international economic cooperation, among other issues.
The prime minister is scheduled to deliver his speech in Bangla, in line with Bangladesh’s tradition at the UN.
On the sidelines of the UNGA, Tarique Rahman is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with a number of heads of state and government, as well as senior officials of international organisations.
Among those he is expected to meet are Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, World Bank Group President Ajay Banga and Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé.
He is also scheduled to meet UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar Julie Bishop, European Council President António Costa, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih and Meta Platforms’ Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan.
Foreign Affairs State Minister Humaiun Kobir, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson Mahdi Amin, senior government officials and Bangladesh’s permanent representative to the United Nations were also present at the opening session.
Welcome breakfast
Tarique joined a welcome breakfast hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres for heads of state and government and their spouses attending the 81st UNGA.
The prime minister exchanged greetings with Guterres and took part in a photo session at the beginning of the breakfast, alongside other participating world leaders.
The breakfast marked the beginning of the prime minister’s official engagements during his visit to New York.
Arrival in New York
The prime minister arrived in New York on Monday to attend the UNGA, where Bangladeshi expatriates and BNP leaders and activists organised programmes to welcome him.
He was received at the airport by Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York Irene Zubaida Khan and Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Tareq Md Ariful Islam.
Jackson Heights, a major hub of the Bangladeshi community in New York, was decorated with banners, posters, and festoons ahead of his arrival. Bangladeshi community groups and BNP supporters also organised welcome programmes.
The prime minister’s UN engagements come as Bangladesh seeks to strengthen its engagement with major international partners and multilateral institutions.
The 81st session of the General Assembly opened on 8 September, while the high-level General Debate began on 22 September and will continue through 26 September, with a further sitting scheduled for 28 September.
