PM to Present Bangladesh’s ‘Renewed Democratic Journey’ and Multi-Faceted Agenda at UN

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set to represent Bangladesh at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) as the country’s head of government. A press conference was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday ahead of the visit. Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam told reporters that the Prime Minister will address the general debate on September 24. He will deliver his speech in Bangla.

In his address, he will highlight Bangladesh’s renewed democratic journey, the rule of law, accountability, global peace, climate change, sustainable development, economic cooperation, youth and women’s empowerment, education, health, the Rohingya crisis and reform of the multilateral system.

The Foreign Secretary said Bangladesh’s participation in this year’s session carries special significance as it will be the current government’s first appearance at the United Nations’ highest global forum. It will provide an opportunity to present the new government’s political commitments and vision for Bangladesh’s future to the international community.

He also said this will be Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s first appearance at the UN General Assembly as Prime Minister, while Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister will preside over the same session. He described it as a rare, historic and proud moment for Bangladesh.

The Prime Minister will leave for New York on Monday. After arriving, his official programme will begin on September 22. On the first day, he will attend a welcome breakfast hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres for heads of state and government. He will then join world leaders at the opening ceremony. In the evening, he will attend a reception hosted by US President Donald Trump.

On September 23, the Prime Minister will exchange views with representatives of various international charitable and humanitarian organisations at a breakfast meeting. He will then address a meeting on tackling the global inequality crisis, jointly organised by Brazil, South Africa, Norway and Spain.

In the afternoon, he will attend a high-level meeting titled “Climate Action and the Just Transition,” organised at the initiative of the UN Secretary-General. On September 24, he will deliver the opening remarks at a high-level meeting on addressing the existential threats posed by rising sea levels.

At these meetings, he will present Bangladesh’s position on climate finance, adaptation, technology transfer, loss and damage, and climate justice.

The Prime Minister will also attend two important side events hosted by Bangladesh. At a side event on the Rohingya crisis on September 23, he will seek effective international cooperation for the early repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar. On September 24, he will deliver the keynote speech as the chief guest at a side event on maternal and newborn health and midwifery.

At the event, he will highlight the new government’s initiatives and future plans to protect maternal and child health and stress the importance of skilled midwifery services.
During the conference, the Prime Minister is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with the Crown Prince of Kuwait and the prime ministers of Croatia, Bhutan, Thailand, Pakistan and Haiti.

He is also scheduled to meet UN Secretary-General António Guterres, European Council President António Costa, the President of the World Bank Group, the UN Special Envoy on Myanmar, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the President of the International Peace Institute. As part of economic diplomacy, the Prime Minister is also scheduled to meet senior representatives of Meta, Wall Street and several other business organisations.

A 35-member delegation will accompany the Prime Minister. Among them are Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, and Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman.

Among the political leaders accompanying him are Saiful Haque, General Secretary of the Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh, and Golam Mohiuddin Ekram, Secretary General of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh.
The Foreign Secretary said the visit will provide an important opportunity to present the new government’s journey in Bangladesh to the global community and expand bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

Through the visit, Bangladesh will seek to convey a message of a democratic, confident, responsible, peace-loving and promising country to the world.

The Prime Minister will leave New York for Bangladesh on the night of September 25.
Regarding the Rohingya crisis, a possible agreement with Boeing to purchase aircraft and the possibility of a bilateral meeting with the US president, the Foreign Secretary said these matters are part of ongoing processes. He said that although programmes are scheduled during multilateral conferences, they continue to evolve over time.