Prime Minister Tarique Rahman arrived in Antalya on Tuesday afternoon on a three-day official visit to Türkiye to attend the COP31 World Leaders’ Summit, where he is scheduled to outline Bangladesh’s position on climate justice and hold bilateral meetings with world leaders.
He was received at the airport by Türkiye’s Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism, Dr Serdar Çam.
Tarique later held his first bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Maxx Royal Hotel. The two leaders discussed ways to increase bilateral trade and investment and expand cooperation in key sectors, PMO Press Secretary Saleh Shibly confirmed TIMES.
Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir were also present at the meeting.
COP31 summit
The COP31 summit will be held on November 11 and 12.
The prime minister is scheduled to deliver Bangladesh’s statement at the plenary session on November 12, focusing on climate justice, the historical responsibility of developed countries, climate finance, adaptation, loss and damage, and climate-resilient sustainable development.
Bilateral meetings on the sidelines
Tarique is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the British foreign secretary. A meeting with the administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is also being explored.
Newly appointed Foreign Secretary Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury shared the meeting schedule with journalists in Dhaka on Monday.
The talks are expected to cover bilateral relations, trade and investment, and climate cooperation. The foreign secretary expressed hope that the engagements would create new opportunities to advance Bangladesh’s economic and geopolitical interests.
Bangladesh to showcase climate resilience and jute
Bangladesh will use the summit to showcase its achievements in climate resilience and share its experience of tackling climate impacts across South Asia and the wider Asian region.
A jute pavilion has been set up in the conference’s Green Zone to promote the fibre’s diverse uses, environmental benefits and potential as an alternative to plastic. A joint declaration between Bangladesh and Türkiye on promoting jute and jute products is also envisaged.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will organise two side events in the Blue Zone on November 12 and 13. One will focus on the particular vulnerability of women to climate change in Bangladesh, while the other will examine the challenges of promoting biodegradable, zero-waste jute products as alternatives to synthetic polymers.
A 21-member delegation is accompanying the prime minister. It includes Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo; State Ministers for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir and Shama Obaed Islam; Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Forest, Environment and Climate Change Affairs Dr Md Saimum Parvez; PMO Principal Coordinator for SDG Affairs Professor Dr S M Abdul-Awal; Press Secretary AAM Saleh Shibli; and Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu.
COP, or the Conference of the Parties, is the annual UN climate summit where countries negotiate and discuss collective action to address climate change. Türkiye is presiding over this year’s conference, while Australia is chairing the formal negotiations.
The prime minister is scheduled to return home on Friday.
