Tarique shortens NY visit to 4 days, skips reception
Photo: PMO
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is shortening his visit to New York to just four days to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly and will not accept any reception.
He will arrive on 21 September and depart for home on 25 September. While officials initially planned a nine-day visit, they scaled it down to four days.
PM’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibly told Agamir Somoy that Tarique will attend several events from 22-25 September, address the UN General Assembly on 24 September.
Tarique’s brief itinerary has generated significant discussion in New York, where past prime ministers routinely traveled with massive delegations comprising party leaders, activists, and relatives.
During visits by ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, she stayed at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York for 21 days, incurring a lot of money in hotel accommodation costs for her large entourage. Special flights dispatched from Dhaka remained parked at John F Kennedy International Airport, accumulating more money in parking fees.
In contrast, Tarique is traveling with a slim delegation consisting of personal and security staff alongside key officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
Regarding the reception, official records show that no decision was ever made for Tarique to receive or be given an official civic reception. However, discussions regarding the possibility of a reception occurred among the Prime Minister’s Office, the Bangladesh Consulate in New York, the Bangladesh Mission to the UN, the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington, and US BNP leaders.
Gias Ahmed, former senior vice president of US BNP and central committee member, traveled to Dhaka to discuss the event. Prime Minister’s Office informed him that Tarique refused to accept a reception funded by hundreds of thousands of dollars in state money, though Gias proposed hosting a party-funded event instead.
He told Agamir Somoy on Wednesday, “The PM is returning home on 25 September. Under these circumstances, a reception is not possible.” He added that Tarique will instead meet local BNP leaders and activists on 25 September.
Former general secretary of US BNP Zillur Rahman told Agamir Somoy, “We have undertaken various programs to welcome Tarique. However, the reception is not taking place.”
He added that US BNP will outline their complete schedule of welcome events during a press conference on 19 September.
