PM Tarique Heads to UNGA Debut with ‘New Bangladesh’ Message

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is travelling to New York for his first appearance at the United Nations General Assembly as Bangladesh’s head of government, where he is expected to deliver a “new Bangladesh” message centred on democratic consolidation, economic recovery, climate finance and a lasting solution to the Rohingya crisis.

The prime minister is scheduled to leave Dhaka early today and address the 81st UNGA in Bengali on Thursday. He will become the third member of his family to speak at the global forum. His visit has been shortened, with his return to Dhaka scheduled for Friday night.

“In his address, the prime minister will outline Bangladesh’s renewed democratic journey and the government’s positions on key national and global challenges,” Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam told reporters at a briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.

Tarique is expected to highlight what his government describes as Bangladesh’s democratic transformation after years of undemocratic rule and elections it characterises as one-sided, flawed and rigged.

He is also expected to outline government priorities involving the rule of law, accountability, youth and women’s empowerment, social protection, education and healthcare.

Siam said the prime minister would present his vision for Bangladesh’s future and its role in promoting global peace, sustainable development and solutions to international crises.

The Rohingya crisis is expected to feature prominently in Tarique’s UN engagements. At a Bangladesh-hosted side event on Wednesday, he is expected to seek stronger international support for concrete measures aimed at facilitating the earliest possible repatriation of forcibly displaced Rohingyas to Myanmar.

Climate change will be another key issue, with Bangladesh calling for greater access to predictable climate finance, adaptation assistance, technology transfer, loss-and-damage funding and climate justice. Tarique has previously urged that the Loss and Damage Fund move beyond commitments to actual disbursement.

The prime minister’s UN programme will begin tomorrow with a series of high-level engagements. He will attend a welcome breakfast hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres for heads of state and government, participate in the opening session of the General Assembly and attend an evening reception hosted by US President Donald Trump.

On Wednesday, Tarique will meet representatives of international charitable and humanitarian organisations before addressing a high-level meeting on tackling the global inequality crisis, jointly organised by Brazil, South Africa, Norway and Spain.

He will also attend a high-level meeting on climate action and a just transition, convened at the initiative of the UN secretary-general. There, he is expected to highlight Bangladesh’s vulnerability to climate change and reiterate its demands for climate finance, adaptation support, technology transfer and climate justice.

On Thursday, Tarique will deliver the opening remarks at a high-level meeting on the existential threats posed by rising sea levels.

Bangladesh will also host two other side events during the visit. At a meeting on maternal and newborn health and midwifery, the prime minister is expected to outline government initiatives and future plans to strengthen maternal and child healthcare, with an emphasis on skilled and professionally trained midwives.

Alongside the UN programme, Tarique is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with the Crown Prince of Kuwait and the prime ministers of Croatia, Bhutan, Thailand, Pakistan and Haiti.

The talks are expected to focus on political and economic relations, trade and investment, development cooperation, the Rohingya crisis and other issues of mutual interest.

Tarique is also scheduled to meet Guterres, the president of the European Council, the president of the World Bank Group, the UN secretary-general’s special envoy on Myanmar, and the UN high commissioners for refugees and human rights. He is further expected to meet the president of the International Peace Institute.

Economic diplomacy will form another major part of the visit. The prime minister is scheduled to meet senior representatives of Meta, Wall Street and other business organisations to promote investment, trade and business opportunities in Bangladesh.

Under the government’s “Bangladesh First” approach, Dhaka plans to highlight investment opportunities and the country’s potential in trade, tourism, creative industries and exports, while seeking renewed momentum for economic growth and poverty reduction.

Tarique is also scheduled to attend a dinner hosted by Trump, amid speculation about a possible meeting between the two leaders.

Bangladesh is additionally expected to sign an agreement with Boeing for the purchase of 11 more aircraft from the United States during the visit.

Asked about a possible Tarique-Trump meeting and the reported Boeing agreement, Siam said programmes on the sidelines of multilateral conferences remained subject to change.

“The programme is prepared on an ongoing basis,” he said, noting that planned meetings could be cancelled while new engagements could be added.

“All options remain open,” he said.

Tarique will lead a relatively small delegation, with two political leaders accompanying him: Dr Golam Mohiuddin, secretary general of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh, and Saiful Haque, general secretary of the Revolutionary Workers Party.

The delegation will also include Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, and Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman.