Hasina’s participation in Biden hosted event at UN not confirmed

Diplomatic Correspondent :
The participation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the event hosted by US President Joe Biden has not been officially confirmed by the government, the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

Furthermore, the government has not initiated any formal request for a bilateral meeting with President Biden during Hasina’s US visit to attend the 78th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York scheduled to be started on September 19.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, however, is scheduled to hold meetings with a number of the head of the states and governments during the session.

Sheikh Hasina flanked by a number of ministers and high officials will reach New York on September 17.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen made these remarks in reply to the questions of the journalists during the curtain raiser meeting in the Foreign Ministry on the occasion of PM’s visit to New York.

When asked why the participation of Hasina to the event hosted by President Joe Biden has not been confirmed, the Foreign Minister replied, “They have invited her.

It depends on her health; if she is well, she will attend.

Besides, there remains a long queue there.

We finalise the programmes of the heads of the government or states at the last moment.”

As for whether any requests has been made for a bilateral meeting with Joe Biden, Abdul Momen stated, “We have not made such a request.”

In reply to another question, he further mentioned that the Prime Minister would not travel directly on any flight to the United States.

First, she would travel from Dhaka to London, and from there, she would take a commercial flight.

Regarding the PM’s entourage for the programme of the General Assembly, the Foreign Minister said, “The number of accompanying individuals would be minimal.

Businesspeople will cover their own expenses, but a small number of government officials will go with her following the austerity measures taken by the government.”

Among others, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, Minister of Health and Family Welfare Zahid Maleque, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Affairs Adviser to the PM Dr. Tawfiq-e-Elahi and State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak would accompany her.