Tarique’s UNGA debut opens new diplomatic front

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set to make his UN General Assembly debut as head of government next week, using the high-profile gathering not only to present his vision for a “new Bangladesh” but also to pursue bilateral engagements on trade, investment, energy, climate finance, migration and the Rohingya crisis.

The visit comes as Bangladesh seeks to project a new foreign-policy outlook, with Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman presiding over the 81st General Assembly.

Tarique is scheduled to leave Dhaka for New York on 21 September and remain there until 26 September, sources said.

He is expected to address the 81st session on the UN General Assembly on 24 September and hold a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings on the sidelines.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir has said the Prime Minister will present Bangladesh’s new outlook and future roadmap to the international community.

The visit comes at a particularly significant moment for Bangladesh because the 81st General Assembly is being presided over by Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman, who was elected president of the session on 2 June and formally assumed office when the session opened on 8 September.

The United Nations confirms that Khalilur Rahman is the president of the 81st General Assembly, whose theme is “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers for All.”

For Dhaka, the combination of the Prime Minister’s first UNGA appearance and a Bangladeshi foreign minister presiding over the Assembly creates an unusually prominent diplomatic setting.

Humaiun Kobir has said Tarique Rahman will use his address to explain what the government means by a “new Bangladesh”, including the country’s democratic transition and its aspirations for the future.

The Prime Minister is also expected to highlight Bangladesh’s priorities on world peace, sustainable development, conflict resolution, poverty reduction, economic recovery, climate change and climate finance.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam has separately said the Prime Minister will present Bangladesh’s national interests, economic potential and development opportunities under the government’s “Bangladesh First” foreign-policy approach.

She described the 81st UNGA as an important moment for Bangladesh, saying it represents a new journey and new possibilities following the formation of the new democratic government.

The emphasis on climate change is expected to be particularly prominent.

Shama has said climate change will feature significantly in the Prime Minister’s maiden UNGA address, reflecting Bangladesh’s longstanding vulnerability to climate-related risks as well as its interest in securing greater international support for climate adaptation and finance.

The UNGA theme itself provides a broader diplomatic context for Dhaka’s message. Khalilur Rahman’s programme for the session focuses on rebuilding trust in multilateral institutions, managing global transformation and ensuring that countries are not left behind.

His six priority areas include peace and conflict prevention, development, climate action, rights and protection, inclusive innovation and strengthening multilateralism.

The Rohingya crisis will be another major issue during the visit. Bangladesh currently hosts nearly 1.2 million Rohingya refugees, according to the United Nations, most of them in camps in Cox’s Bazar.

The UN and humanitarian partners appealed in May for $710.5 million to meet critical needs among refugees and host communities, warning that funding shortages were putting essential services under pressure.

The crisis has entered its ninth year without a durable solution. UNHCR has repeatedly called for continued international support while stressing the need for conditions that would allow voluntary, safe and dignified returns to Myanmar.

Dhaka plans to organise a high-level side event on the Rohingya issue during the UNGA, where the Prime Minister is expected to speak. Humaiun Kobir has said Bangladesh will continue efforts to keep the prolonged crisis at the centre of international discussions.

Bangladesh is expected to press for stronger international engagement with Myanmar, greater support for the refugee-hosting country and sustained efforts towards safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation.

Md Obaidul Haque, an associate professor of international relations at the University of Dhaka, said the UNGA visit would give Tarique Rahman an important multilateral platform to introduce Bangladesh’s priorities to the international community.

“This will be a multilateral visit for the Prime Minister,” Haque told The New Nation.

He said the Prime Minister could use the UN platform to present Bangladesh in a new way and explain the country’s priorities to a broad international audience.

He also noted that the meetings held alongside the General Assembly could be as important as the formal address.

According to Haque, Tarique Rahman will have opportunities to discuss issues including the Rohingya crisis and energy cooperation with other leaders and representatives.

“As this is his first UNGA appearance as Prime Minister, the visit could also provide an opportunity to develop bilateral engagements through a multilateral forum,” he added.

Khalilur Rahman’s role gives Bangladesh an additional diplomatic platform during this year’s General Assembly.

At the opening of the 81st session, UN Secretary-General António Guterres praised Khalilur Rahman’s diplomatic experience and knowledge of the United Nations, particularly his commitment to dialogue, consensus-building and international cooperation.

Khalilur Rahman himself has pledged to focus on rebuilding trust, developing consensus and creating space for negotiations that produce outcomes acceptable to member states.

That does not mean the presidency gives Bangladesh control over the General Assembly’s agenda. The president is expected to act impartially on behalf of the Assembly.

But his position gives Bangladesh considerable visibility at a time when the country is seeking to strengthen its engagement with the wider international community.

Beyond his UNGA speech, Tarique Rahman is expected to hold meetings with a number of foreign leaders and representatives during his stay in New York.

The Prime Minister will also take part in an event with the Bangladeshi diaspora in San Francisco, according to the government’s planned itinerary.

The visit therefore offers an opportunity to combine multilateral diplomacy with bilateral engagement, particularly on trade, investment, energy, climate finance, migration and regional security.

The visit will be closely watched because it represents the new government’s first major appearance at the UN General Assembly.

The government is also seeking to project a foreign policy based on national interests and engagement with a broad range of partners.

The significance of the visit, therefore, will ultimately depend not only on the rhetoric of the Prime Minister’s speech but also on the diplomatic engagements and follow-up that emerge from his six-day trip.