PM to attend UNGA 81 in New York

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will leave Dhaka on September 21 for the United States to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Foreign Affairs State Minister Humayun Kobir said on Sunday said the prime minister would stay in New York until September 26 and would have a busy schedule, including his address to the UN General Assembly and meetings with world leaders.

Kobir disclosed the travel schedule while speaking to journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The prime minister is expected to use the UN platform to present Bangladesh’s new vision and priorities to the international community, the state minister said.

In his address, Tarique Rahman will also outline Bangladesh’s democratic transition, including the process through which a government was elected through free and fair elections, Kobir said.

The Rohingya crisis will be a major focus of Bangladesh’s diplomatic efforts during the UN visit, with the government planning to organise a side event on the issue.

“We will start with a side event and continue working to keep the Rohingya crisis on the international community’s agenda during our tenure,” he said.

Asked whether Bangladesh would discuss the UN Refugee Convention or sign any agreement concerning refugees during the visit, the state minister did not announce any decision to sign the convention.

He said the government would instead focus on maintaining international attention on the Rohingya crisis.

Asked whether Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would meet US President Donald Trump during the visit, Kobir said the primary purpose of the trip was to attend the UN General Assembly and deliver the prime minister’s address.

He noted that several bilateral and other meetings are normally held on the sidelines of the General Assembly.

“The prime minister would leave on September 21 and stay in New York until September 26,” Kobir said, adding that details of the prime minister’s meetings would be announced once the schedule was finalised.

He also told the journalists that there would be no attempt to keep the schedule secret.