PM Tarique holds 10 engagements on first day in New York

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman took part in 10 of his 12 scheduled engagements on the first day of his New York visit for the 81st UN General Assembly, with discussions focusing largely on the Rohingya crisis, regional cooperation and Bangladesh’s development priorities.

Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson and adviser Dr Mahdi Amin disclosed the details during a press briefing at the Bangladesh Permanent Mission in New York on Tuesday evening.

Tarique Rahman attended the opening and plenary session of the UN General Assembly in the morning, accompanied by his wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, and members of the Bangladesh delegation.

Mahdi Amin said Tarique was representing Bangladesh at the UN following in the footsteps of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

He also highlighted that Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman is serving as president of the 81st UN General Assembly, calling it an important milestone for Bangladesh.

During separate meetings with the prime ministers of Bhutan and Haiti, the vice-president of the Maldives and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Tarique discussed regional cooperation, connectivity, tourism, education, healthcare and stronger SAARC ties, among other issues.

His meeting with the Haitian prime minister focused on Haiti’s political instability and law-and-order situation, Bangladesh’s experience in UN peacekeeping and ways the country and the international community could benefit from that experience.

Mahdi Amin described Tarique’s meeting with Erdogan as “constructive, cordial and friendly”. Erdogan congratulated the Bangladeshi prime minister on his electoral victory and invited him to visit Türkiye. The two leaders also discussed bilateral relations and opportunities to expand cooperation.

The Rohingya crisis featured prominently in meetings with UNHCR and the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar. Discussions centred on ensuring the safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of more than one million Rohingyas who have been living in Bangladesh since 2017, as well as strengthening global, bilateral and multilateral efforts to resolve the crisis.

Tarique also met representatives of the World Bank to discuss education, healthcare, employment, investment, trade, deregulation, economic liberalisation and budgetary matters. The talks also explored expanding the World Bank’s role in Bangladesh’s development projects and future cooperation.

Of the 12 engagements scheduled for the day, Tarique personally attended 10, while senior-level delegations represented him at some events due to time constraints. One of the meetings, with Meta, included discussions on the company’s large user base in Bangladesh and bilateral relations.

Mahdi Amin said the first day of engagements focused on safeguarding Bangladesh’s national and public interests while showcasing the country’s position and priorities on the global stage.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs-1 Humaiun Kobir, State Minister for Foreign Affairs-2 Shama Obaed Islam, Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Abu Abdullah M Saleh (Saleh Shibli) and Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon were also present at the briefing.