Tarique Rahman Accorded VVIP Status in Türkiye, Holds Talks with Erdogan

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman arrived in Antalya, Türkiye, on Tuesday on a three-day visit to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31). His wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, is accompanying him.
The Turkish Airlines flight carrying the Prime Minister and his entourage landed in Antalya at 4:03pm local time. Türkiye’s Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Dr Serdar Cam welcomed him at the airport.
Earlier, the Prime Minister left Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) International Airport in Dhaka at 7:30am. After a two-hour stopover in Istanbul, he travelled to Antalya on another Turkish Airlines flight. The flight arrived at Istanbul Airport at 12:40pm local time, where Mr Tarique Rahman was accorded VVIP status and taken to the state guest house. He was received by the airport’s administrative chief and governor, Dr M. Ilker Haktanacmaz, according to Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shibli.
Later, Mr Tarique Rahman held a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Maxx Royal Hotel in Antalya. The meeting began at 7:15pm local time on Tuesday (November 10) and ended at 7:45pm. Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir were also present.
The meeting took place a day before the start of COP31.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to attend the conference today (Wednesday) and deliver an address at a plenary session on November 12. On the sidelines, he is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with several heads of state and government.
He will highlight Bangladesh’s position on climate justice, the historical responsibility of developed countries, climate finance, adaptation, loss and damage, and climate-resilient sustainable development.
Newly appointed Foreign Secretary Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury told journalists in Dhaka on Monday that bilateral meetings were being arranged with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the UK Foreign Secretary. A meeting with the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) was also under consideration.
He said the discussions would focus on bilateral relations, trade, investment and climate cooperation, creating opportunities to advance Bangladesh’s economic and geopolitical interests.
The Foreign Secretary said Bangladesh contributes only 0.05 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions but remains among the countries most vulnerable to climate change.
Ensuring climate justice, securing adaptation finance, addressing climate-induced loss and damage, and ensuring that developed countries fulfil their climate finance commitments are among Bangladesh’s top priorities.
Regarding compensation for climate-induced loss and damage, he said Bangladesh presents assessments of such losses at international forums to raise awareness and strengthen cooperation.
Bangladesh will also showcase its achievements in building climate resilience and share its experience in addressing climate change impacts in South Asia and the wider Asian region.
A jute pavilion has been set up in the conference’s Green Zone to showcase the versatile uses and environment-friendly properties of jute and its potential as an alternative to plastic. A joint declaration between Bangladesh and Türkiye to promote jute and jute products is also under consideration.
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 vulnerabilities of women to climate change in Bangladesh, while the other will highlight challenges in promoting biodegradable and waste-free jute products as alternatives to synthetic polymers.