DHAKA — Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set to highlight Bangladesh’s renewed democratic journey and its positions on major global challenges when he addresses the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 24, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam said Sunday. The prime minister will leave Dhaka for New York on Monday for the high-level UNGA proceedings. According to the Foreign Secretary, his maiden address to the General Assembly as prime minister will outline the government’s vision for Bangladesh and its approach to key regional and international issues.

At a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Siam said Tarique’s speech would cover Bangladesh’s democratic transition, the rule of law and accountability, global peace and security, climate change, sustainable development and economic cooperation.

The prime minister is also expected to address youth and women’s empowerment, education and health, the Rohingya crisis, equitable access to modern technology and reform of the multilateral system. The speech will be Tarique Rahman’s first appearance at the General Assembly as Bangladesh’s prime minister. It will also mark the first UNGA participation of the incumbent government, according to the Foreign Secretary.

Rohingya crisis to feature prominently

The protracted Rohingya crisis is expected to be a major focus of Bangladesh’s diplomatic engagement in New York. Tarique is scheduled to attend a Bangladesh-hosted side event on the Rohingya issue on September 23, where he is expected to seek stronger international cooperation toward the repatriation of Rohingyas who fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar.

Siam said Bangladesh would again use the gathering of world leaders to draw attention to the scale of the crisis, the challenges it poses and the international assistance required to address it. Bangladesh has consistently called for the safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable return of Rohingyas to Myanmar as a lasting solution to the crisis.

Climate change and sea-level rise

Climate change will also be a prominent issue during the prime minister’s UN engagements. On September 23, Tarique is scheduled to participate in a high-level meeting on “Climate Action and the Just Transition,” convened at the initiative of the UN secretary-general. The following day, he will deliver opening remarks at a high-level meeting addressing the existential threats posed by sea-level rise.

At the climate-related meetings, Bangladesh is expected to emphasize the priorities of climate-vulnerable countries, including climate finance, adaptation, technology transfer, loss and damage, and climate justice.

Global inequality and maternal health

Tarique will also participate in a high-level meeting focused on tackling the global inequality crisis, jointly organized by Brazil, South Africa, Norway and Spain. A Bangladesh-hosted side event on maternal and newborn health and midwifery is also scheduled for September 24. The prime minister is expected to discuss government initiatives on maternal and child health and the importance of skilled and professionally trained midwives.

Bilateral meetings

Alongside the UNGA program, Tarique is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with the Crown Prince of Kuwait and the prime ministers of Croatia, Bhutan, Thailand, Pakistan and Haiti. According to the Foreign Secretary, the discussions are expected to cover political and economic relations, trade and investment, development cooperation, the Rohingya crisis and other issues of mutual interest.

The prime minister is also scheduled to meet UN Secretary-General António 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 also expected to meet the president of the International Peace Institute.

Economic diplomacy

Tarique’s New York visit will also include an economic diplomacy component, with meetings planned with senior representatives of Meta, Wall Street and other business organizations. The discussions are expected to focus on Bangladesh’s investment climate, manufacturing, infrastructure and technology, human-resource and skills development, and employment opportunities for young people.

The prime minister is scheduled to leave New York for Dhaka on September 25 after completing his official engagements. The Foreign Secretary said the visit would provide an opportunity for Bangladesh to present its priorities to the international community and strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

Bangladesh will be presiding over the 81st UN General Assembly this year, with Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman serving as president of the 193-member General Assembly for its one-year term.

DHAKA — Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will leave Dhaka on Monday for New York to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly and is scheduled to address the General Debate on September 24, the Foreign Ministry said Sunday. Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the prime minister’s address will outline the government’s positions on Bangladesh’s democratic transition and a range of national and global issues.

According to the Foreign Secretary, Tarique Rahman is expected to speak about the rule of law and accountability, global peace and security, climate change, sustainable development and economic cooperation. He is also expected to highlight youth and women’s empowerment, education and health, the Rohingya crisis, equitable access to modern technology and reform of the multilateral system.

The visit will mark Tarique Rahman’s first participation in the UN General Assembly as Bangladesh’s prime minister. It will also be the first appearance at the UN’s highest-level global forum by the incumbent government, according to the Foreign Secretary. Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister is serving as president of the 81st General Assembly session, which officials described as an additional significance for the country’s participation this year.

Packed diplomatic schedule

Tarique Rahman’s official engagements are scheduled to begin on September 22 with a welcome breakfast hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres for heads of state and government. He is also scheduled to attend the opening of the high-level segment and a reception hosted by the U.S. president for heads of state and government and their spouses.

On September 23, the prime minister is expected to meet representatives of international charitable and humanitarian organizations. He will also participate in a high-level meeting on global inequality and attend a meeting on climate action and a just transition.

The Rohingya crisis will be another major focus of the visit. At a side event on the crisis, Tarique Rahman is expected to call for greater international cooperation to facilitate the earliest possible repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar. At climate-related meetings, Bangladesh is expected to emphasize issues including climate finance, adaptation, technology transfer, loss and damage, and climate justice.

Sea-level rise and maternal health

On September 24, the prime minister is scheduled to deliver opening remarks at a high-level UN meeting addressing the threats posed by sea-level rise. The United Nations has scheduled the high-level meeting for September 24 at its New York headquarters. The meeting will bring together world leaders and other stakeholders to discuss international cooperation and practical measures to address the growing impacts of rising sea levels, particularly on vulnerable coastal and low-lying countries.

Tarique Rahman is also scheduled to address a Bangladesh-hosted side event on maternal and newborn health and midwifery. He is expected to outline government initiatives concerning maternal and child health and emphasize the importance of trained midwifery services.

Bilateral meetings

On the sidelines of the General Assembly, the prime minister is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with the crown prince of Kuwait and the prime ministers of Croatia, Bhutan, Thailand, Pakistan and Haiti. According to the Foreign Secretary, the meetings are expected to cover bilateral political and economic relations, trade and investment, development cooperation, the Rohingya crisis and other issues of mutual interest.

Tarique Rahman is also expected to meet UN Secretary-General António 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 additionally scheduled to meet the president of the International Peace Institute.

Focus on investment and economic diplomacy

Economic diplomacy will also feature during the visit, with meetings planned between the prime minister and senior representatives of Meta, Wall Street and other business organizations. The discussions are expected to focus on Bangladesh’s investment environment, manufacturing, infrastructure and technology, human-resource and skills development, and employment opportunities for young people.

The prime minister is scheduled to leave New York for Dhaka on the night of September 25. The Foreign Secretary said the government hopes the visit will help expand Bangladesh’s bilateral and multilateral cooperation and present its priorities to the international community.