PM Holds 30 Events in Four Days in New York, Meets Leaders of 11 Countries
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held a total of 30 official engagements during his four-day visit to New York, including UN General Assembly-related events and bilateral meetings with the heads of state and government of 11 countries. The meetings focused on Bangladesh’s national interests, trade and investment, overseas employment, energy security, the Rohingya crisis, climate change, health and international peace.
Prime Minister’s Adviser and Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson Mahdi Amin disclosed the information while briefing journalists at Bangladesh’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York on Friday (September 25) night local time. He said the visit included eight UN General Assembly-related events, four high-level side events, 11 bilateral meetings and several other meetings with international organisations and prominent individuals.
Mahdi Amin said the Prime Minister delivered speeches at five of the eight General Assembly-related events. He also held meetings with the UN secretary-general, the World Bank president, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN secretary-general’s special envoy for Myanmar.
He said the meetings covered issues of Bangladesh’s national interest, along with expanding people-to-people contacts, trade and investment and strengthening mutual cooperation with different countries.
On the final day of the visit, Friday, the Prime Minister attended a breakfast meeting in Manhattan hosted by JPMorgan Chase with around 20 top Wall Street investors. Discussions focused on investment opportunities in Bangladesh’s financial sector and other areas, as well as ways to increase foreign investment.
He later met Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, president of the International Peace Institute. They discussed making the UN-centred multilateral system more effective and inclusive, international peace and restoring democracy in Bangladesh.
The Prime Minister also met the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. According to Mahdi Amin, the meeting focused on human rights, the rule of law and strengthening democracy in Bangladesh.
During the visit, the Prime Minister also held important meetings with senior representatives of three Middle Eastern countries. Discussions with the Crown Prince of Kuwait, the Saudi foreign minister and the UAE deputy prime minister focused on strengthening bilateral relations, trade, investment, overseas employment and economic cooperation.
Earlier, Mr. Tarique held meetings with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Prime Minister of Bhutan and the Vice President of the Maldives, among other leaders. The discussions covered issues of mutual interest, including regional cooperation, trade, connectivity, tourism, education, health and the Rohingya crisis.
Mahdi Amin said the Prime Minister represented Bangladesh at the United Nations as the head of a government elected by the people. In his speech and various meetings, he highlighted Bangladesh’s national priorities as well as global peace, humanity, democracy and international cooperation.
After completing his four-day New York visit, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman left New York for Dhaka on Friday night. He is scheduled to return home on Saturday night via Dubai.
