Prime Minister Tarique Rahman attended 30 programmes, including bilateral meetings with 11 countries, during his five‑day visit to New York for the 81st UN General Assembly, PM’s Adviser and Spokesperson Mahdi Amin said.
He told Bangladeshi journalists at the Permanent Mission on Friday that Bangladesh’s priorities — trade and investment, manpower export, energy security, regional cooperation, the Rohingya crisis, healthcare, climate change and global peace — featured prominently in the discussions.
Mahdi said eight programmes were directly linked to the General Assembly, while Tarique joined four high‑level side events, held 11 bilateral meetings and met heads of international organisations and dignitaries, UNB reports.
On Friday, the prime minister began with a breakfast hosted by JPMorgan Chase and 20 Wall Street investors, focusing on financial sector investment in Bangladesh.
He later met the president of the International Peace Institute, discussing Bangladesh’s democratic return and role in promoting peace and rule of law, before meeting the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on issues of democracy, rights and governance.
The prime minister also held three bilateral meetings with Middle East leaders — Kuwait’s Crown Prince, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister and the UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister — covering manpower exports, worker protection, energy and mineral cooperation, and investment. All three invited him to visit their countries.
Mahdi said the Prime Minister’s overall programme included speeches at five UNGA events, meetings with the World Bank president, the UN Secretary‑General, the UN envoy on Myanmar, the UN refugee chief and representatives of the Gates Foundation. Bangladesh also co‑hosted two side events on the Rohingya crisis and maternal healthcare, while Tarique addressed sessions on climate action, just transition and sea‑level rise.
Zubaida Rahman, the prime minister’s wife, joined eight high‑level programmes and spoke at four, including the UN Platform of Women Leaders and the First Spouses’ Dialogue.
Altogether, Tarique and his delegation represented Bangladesh at around 80 programmes during the visit. Mahdi noted the trip was conducted with a small delegation, aiming to maximise limited time by advancing Bangladesh’s interests.
He said Tarique’s UNGA speech went beyond domestic priorities, highlighting global peace, democracy, human rights and cooperation.
“We believe the democratic government’s journey will continue and, under the Prime Minister’s leadership, Bangladesh will move forward as a more prosperous and self‑reliant country on the global stage,” Mahdi added.
