PM departs for Türkiye to attend COP31 World Leaders’ Summit

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman departed Dhaka for Türkiye on Tuesday morning on a three-day official visit to attend the COP31 World Leaders' Summit, where he is scheduled to deliver Bangladesh's statement at a plenary session and hold bilateral meetings with several international leaders.

A Turkish Airlines flight carrying the Prime Minister, his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and other members of the delegation took off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 7:30am, according to PM's Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu.

Among those present at the airport to see him off were Planning and Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, BNP Acting Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni, Dhaka North City BNP Member Secretary and lawmaker SM Jahangir Hossain, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani and PM's Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar.

The summit will take place in Antalya on November 11–12, with Tarique Rahman scheduled to deliver Bangladesh's statement during the plenary session on November 12. The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the United Nations' annual climate summit, bringing together countries to discuss collective action against climate change.

The Prime Minister's delegation includes the Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, two state ministers for foreign affairs, his Special Assistant on Environment, Forest and Climate Change, relevant government officials, members of the media and other distinguished individuals.

Foreign Secretary Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury told reporters on Monday that preparations for the Prime Minister's bilateral engagements on the sidelines of the summit were still underway.

Meetings are being arranged with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Australian Prime Minister, the President of Uzbekistan and the British Foreign Secretary. A possible meeting with the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is also being explored.

According to the foreign secretary, the discussions are expected to focus on bilateral relations, trade and investment, climate cooperation and other issues of mutual interest. He expressed optimism that the engagements would create fresh opportunities to advance Bangladesh's economic and geopolitical interests.

Asked about a possible courtesy meeting with the Turkish president, Chowdhury said such an engagement was being considered, with broader bilateral cooperation expected to feature in the discussions. However, he noted that specific project agreements were unlikely to be finalised during a meeting on the sidelines of a multilateral conference.

In his plenary address, the Prime Minister is expected to outline Bangladesh's position on climate justice, the historical responsibility of developed countries, climate financing, adaptation, loss and damage, and climate-resilient sustainable development.

Chowdhury noted that Bangladesh accounts for only 0.05 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions but remains one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change. He said securing climate justice, ensuring adequate adaptation financing, addressing loss and damage, and holding developed countries accountable for their climate finance commitments remain key priorities for Dhaka.

Regarding compensation for climate-related losses and damage, the foreign secretary said Bangladesh regularly presents estimates of its losses at international forums to raise awareness and mobilise global cooperation. Although estimates may vary, highlighting the scale of the losses internationally serves the country's interests, he added.

Bangladesh will also highlight its achievements in climate resilience and share its experiences in addressing climate-related challenges across South Asia and the wider Asian region.

As part of its participation, Bangladesh has taken an initiative to establish a jute pavilion in the conference's Green Zone to showcase the versatile uses of jute, its environmental benefits and its potential as an alternative to plastic.

A joint declaration between Bangladesh and Türkiye on promoting jute and jute products is also being considered, the foreign secretary said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will organise two side events in the Blue Zone on November 12 and 13. One will highlight the particular vulnerability of women to climate change in Bangladesh, while the other will address challenges in promoting biodegradable, zero-waste jute products as alternatives to synthetic polymers.

Chowdhury said Türkiye is presiding over this year's conference, while Australia is co-chairing the formal negotiation process.

He added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had coordinated with the Ministry of Environment and other relevant agencies to formulate Bangladesh's positions through inter-ministerial discussions and consultations with stakeholders.

The foreign secretary expressed hope that the Prime Minister's participation would strengthen Bangladesh's position in international climate diplomacy and draw greater global attention to the country's efforts to build climate resilience.