Tarique Rahman Leads 38-Member Delegation to UNGA

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is leading a 38-member delegation to the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), accompanied by his wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman.

The delegation includes four Cabinet ministers — Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman, and Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman. Although Khalilur Rahman is listed as a member of the delegation, he will preside over the 81st UNGA session.

Also travelling with the Prime Minister are State Ministers for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir and Shama Obaed Islam, State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque, and State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj.

The delegation further includes Prime Minister’s advisers Mahdi Amin and Rehan Asif Asad; Invest Bangladesh Authority Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun; Special Assistants to the Prime Minister Tanvir Shahriar Ghani, SM Ziauddin Hyder and Dr Md Saimum Parvez; and Biman Bangladesh Airlines Chairman Rumee A Hossain.

Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam, Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN Irene Khan, and Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Tareq Md Ariful Islam are also part of the delegation.

Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Abu Abdullah M Saleh, also known as Saleh Shibly, and Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon are accompanying the Prime Minister, along with other officials, including Assistant Military Secretary Lt Col Md Junnun Nahid, ADC Lt Cdr Md Sohanur Rahman and protocol officers.

The security team includes SSF Director General Major General Mahbubus Samad Chowdhury and PGR Commander Brigadier General Ghulam Ariqul Alam.

Two eminent persons — Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh Secretary General Saiful Haque and Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam Bangladesh Secretary General Sayed Gulam Mahiuddin — are also accompanying the Prime Minister.

According to Rumon, previous prime ministers travelled to UNGA with delegations numbering more than 100 members.

“This is the first time Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is travelling to the United Nations with such a small delegation,” he said.