PM Tarique Rahman's busy day amid meetings, engagements at UN

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is currently in New York, USA, to attend the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Alongside participating in the assembly, the Prime Minister had a busy day holding bilateral meetings and interactions with presidents, prime ministers, and organizational heads from various countries.

These meetings and engagements took place yesterday, Tuesday, local time in New York. Photos and videos of the discussions were regularly posted on the official verified Facebook page of the Prime Minister's Office.
Photo: PMO
At the start of the day, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman attended the "Welcome Breakfast Reception" hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres. He was accompanied by his wife, Dr. Zubaida Rahman. The event, held at the North Delegates Lounge Hall of the UN Headquarters, was attended by heads of delegations and their spouses from various countries worldwide.
Photo: PMO

Prior to attending the opening ceremony of the 81st UNGA session, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held an informal conversation with Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, who also serves as the UN Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development.
Photo: PMO
Following that, the Prime Minister joined the opening ceremony of the 81st UNGA session accompanied by members of the Bangladeshi delegation.

On the sidelines of the assembly, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held bilateral meetings with the Prime Minister of Bhutan, Dasho Tshering Tobgay, as well as the Vice President of the Maldives, Uz. Hussain Mohamed Latheef.

During these separate discussions held at the UN Headquarters, deliberations focused on strengthening the existing friendly and cordial relations between Bangladesh and Bhutan, as well as between Bangladesh and the Maldives. They reviewed various matters of mutual interest alongside avenues for regional and international cooperation.

The leaders also discussed expanding potential areas of ongoing collaboration to benefit the mutual interests and well-being of the respective populations.

Photo: PMO
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman also held a meeting with World Bank Group President Ajay Banga. Their discussion covered Bangladesh's development priorities, economic progress, and various matters of mutual interest. They exchanged views on strengthening World Bank assistance in Bangladesh's development initiatives and broadening areas of future partnership.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister met with the Prime Minister of Haiti, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, at the UN Headquarters. The bilateral meeting addressed bilateral relations, mutual interests, and various aspects of regional and international cooperation between Bangladesh and Haiti.
Julie Bishop, the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy on Myanmar, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Hyatt Grand Central Hotel. During the meeting, discussions focused on a sustainable resolution to the Rohingya crisis and the effective role of the international community in addressing the issue.

During the discussion, the Prime Minister sought the cooperation of the international community to ensure the dignified repatriation of the Rohingyas.

Barham Salih, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, also paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
During their meeting at the Hyatt Grand Central New York, the discussion centered on finding a sustainable solution to the long-standing Rohingya crisis, creating a conducive environment for the safe, voluntary, and dignified repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar, and fostering an effective and coordinated role by the international community toward this goal.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said that, on humanitarian grounds, Bangladesh has been providing shelter to a vast number of Rohingyas for a long time. He emphasized that there is no alternative to the safe and dignified return of the Rohingyas to their homeland for a permanent solution to the crisis, requiring more effective and coordinated initiatives from the international community.

Barham Salih commended Bangladesh's humanitarian role in hosting the Rohingyas and highlighted the importance of continued international support for a sustainable resolution to the crisis.
Photo: PMO
Additionally, a bilateral meeting was held between Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the Turkish House in New York. Both leaders exchanged views on various matters of mutual interest to further strengthen and diversify the historic and friendly relations between Bangladesh and Turkey. They also discussed potential areas for expanding cooperation in economy, trade, and investment.
Emphasis was placed on maintaining close collaboration and coordination between the two nations on key regional and international issues as well as shared priorities.

Both leaders expressed their commitment to further strengthening existing friendly ties and opening new avenues of future cooperation based on mutual interests and shared priorities.
Photo: PMO
Earlier on Monday, at 6:20 PM New York time, the flight carrying the Prime Minister landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport via Turkish Airlines.

At the airport, the Prime Minister was received by Irene Zubaida Khan, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN, and Tareq Md Ariful Islam, Ambassador of Bangladesh to the US. Later, the Prime Minister was escorted in a motorcade to the Hyatt Grand Central New York Hotel.

Upon arriving at the hotel, the Prime Minister was welcomed by AKM Wahiduzzaman, Deputy Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN, and Consul General Mozammel Haque.

Earlier on Monday, around 6:00 AM Bangladesh time, the Prime Minister departed for the United States on a Turkish Airlines flight from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The flight had a two-hour and thirty-five-minute layover in Turkey before heading to New York.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to address the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 24.