PM set to visit US for UN General Assembly

After visits to Malaysia and China, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is now travelling to the United States to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. If everything goes as planned, he may leave for New York on September 21. He is also scheduled to visit San Francisco afterwards. Officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said preparations are underway for the Prime Minister’s nine-day visit. Work is underway to obtain US visas for members of his entourage. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has formally informed the US Embassy in Dhaka about the matter through a note verbale.

Officials said the Prime Minister will address the United Nations General Assembly for the first time as head of government. He is also scheduled to attend various events on the sidelines of the General Assembly. The Prime Minister is also expected to participate in an exchange of views with expatriate Bangladeshis in San Francisco. The Prime Minister will address the United Nations at a time when Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman will serve as president of the General Assembly. The Foreign Minister had earlier said he would assume the presidency of the United Nations General Assembly on September 8.

Meanwhile, discussions had been underway about the Prime Minister travelling to India on a bilateral visit, but the matter did not progress further. His Press Secretary Saleh Shibli told Reuters on Friday that Bangladesh has not yet made a decision on the issue.