Shibbir Ahmed, New York — Prime Minister Tarique Rahman arrived in New York on Monday to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), beginning a packed diplomatic visit that will include his address to the General Assembly, meetings with world leaders and engagements on climate change, the Rohingya crisis, global business and development.

The Prime Minister arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport aboard a Turkish Airlines flight following a stopover in Istanbul. His wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, and members of his delegation accompanied him.

Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Jahidul Islam Rony said the flight landed at JFK International Airport at around 6:20 p.m. New York time. Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Irene Zubaida Khan, and Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Tareq Md Ariful Islam received the Prime Minister at the airport. Following his arrival, a motorcade escorted the Prime Minister to Hyatt Grand Central New York, where he is scheduled to stay during his visit.

Bangladeshi community welcomes Prime Minister

BNP leaders and activists, along with members of the Bangladeshi expatriate community, gathered in New York to welcome the Prime Minister. Supporters carrying banners, posters and festoons assembled near the airport and along parts of the route leading toward Manhattan. As the Prime Minister’s motorcade passed, members of the crowd waved and chanted slogans, while the Prime Minister responded by waving to them. Jackson Heights, home to one of the largest Bangladeshi communities in New York, was also decorated with banners, posters and festoons marking his visit.

UNGA address scheduled for September 24

The centerpiece of the Prime Minister’s New York visit will be his address to the 81st UN General Assembly on September 24. His official engagements are scheduled to begin on September 22, when he will attend a welcome breakfast hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres for heads of state and government and their spouses at UN Headquarters.

He will subsequently attend the opening of the UNGA general debate and hold a series of bilateral and courtesy meetings with foreign leaders and senior officials of international organizations.

Among his scheduled engagements are meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, World Bank Group President Ajay Banga and Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé.

The Prime Minister is also scheduled to meet UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar Julie Bishop, European Council President António Costa, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk and Meta’s Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan. In the evening, the Prime Minister and Dr Zubaida Rahman are scheduled to attend a reception hosted by the US President for visiting heads of state and government and their spouses.

Rohingya crisis and climate action on agenda

On September 23, the Prime Minister is scheduled to attend a breakfast meeting with representatives of international charitable and humanitarian organizations at the Bangladesh Permanent Mission to the United Nations. He will also participate in a high-level event focusing on the Rohingya crisis and efforts to achieve a durable solution to the prolonged displacement through justice and accountability.

Climate change will feature prominently on the Prime Minister’s agenda. He is scheduled to participate in the UN high-level meeting on “Climate Action and the Just Transition” and hold a bilateral meeting with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.

Boeing Global President Dr Brendan Nelson is also scheduled to call on the Prime Minister at his hotel, where a signing ceremony involving Bangladesh government representatives is expected to take place.

Sea-level rise, maternal health and bilateral meetings

On September 24, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to deliver opening remarks at a high-level meeting addressing the existential threats posed by sea-level rise. He will also attend an event titled “From Commitment to Action: Integrating Midwifery into Primary Health Care to End Preventable Maternal and Newborn Deaths,” where he is expected to deliver opening remarks.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and meet UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.

Later in the day, he is expected to address the General Assembly. His speech is tentatively scheduled for around 5:30 p.m. New York time, although the timing may change depending on the progress of the general debate. Following his UNGA address, the Prime Minister is scheduled to attend a dinner hosted in his honor by Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

Wall Street engagement before departure

On September 25, the Prime Minister is scheduled to attend a breakfast meeting with Wall Street representatives hosted by JPMorgan at its Manhattan headquarters. He will also hold a bilateral meeting with Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and attend a lunch meeting with Prince Zeid Al Hussein, President of the International Peace Institute.

Before concluding his New York visit, the Prime Minister is also scheduled to meet BNP leaders in the United States. He is expected to depart New York for Dhaka at 11 p.m. on September 25 aboard Emirates flight EK202 via Dubai and arrive in Bangladesh on September 27.

Shibbir Ahmed, New York — United Nations General Assembly President Khalilur Rahman has made restoring trust in the United Nations the central theme of his one-year presidency, saying the organization needs to respond to unmet expectations on peace, development and human rights. Rahman, a senior Bangladeshi diplomat and Bangladesh’s sitting foreign minister, took the gavel as president of the 81st session of the General Assembly. In an interview with UN News, he said the UN faces a “crisis of confidence” and needs a transformation to meet the challenges of the modern world.

Speaking as High-Level Week gets underway, Rahman described the gathering of world leaders as a major expression of the UN General Assembly’s convening power. He said he would closely examine what world leaders say about rebuilding trust in the organization and use their views to guide his presidency.

Rahman said the United Nations was founded in 1945 with the ambition of preventing another global conflict. While he noted that the world has avoided another large-scale global war and that the UN has made progress in development, he said many conflicts have not been prevented and development progress has often been slow.

He also highlighted human rights as an area requiring greater attention, saying the UN spends about four percent of its total spending on human rights. Rahman said work across the UN’s peace and security, development and human rights pillars is needed to rebuild confidence in the organization.

AI poses a new challenge

Rahman identified artificial intelligence as one of the major challenges distinguishing today’s world from the era when the UN was founded. He said AI could accelerate human progress but could also create serious risks. While innovation should continue, he argued that safeguards are needed to ensure the technology serves humanity. He called for governments, developers and users to participate in discussions on the responsible development and use of AI.

Assembly’s role

Responding to criticism that General Assembly resolutions lack the authority of Security Council decisions, Rahman emphasized the Assembly’s ability to bring countries together. He said the Assembly provides heads of government and state with a setting to discuss serious international issues and seek solutions through diplomacy. He also said the Assembly will continue to play a role in establishing international norms and providing broader direction for the international community.

Rohingya crisis

Rahman also reflected on his experience working on the Rohingya crisis, describing it as a grave humanitarian crisis and highlighting the resilience of refugees and their desire to return home. He said the crisis reinforced his belief that violence does not provide a lasting solution and that dialogue and negotiation are necessary to resolve conflicts. Looking toward the end of his presidency, Rahman said he hopes to see progress on UN reform, the organization’s financial sustainability and faster delivery at the local level.

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.

Editorial:

Bangladesh’s Rohingya crisis is no longer simply a humanitarian emergency. After years of hosting a large displaced population, the crisis has increasingly become intertwined with national security, border management, economic pressure, environmental degradation and regional stability.

Bangladesh has demonstrated remarkable humanitarian responsibility by providing shelter and assistance to Rohingya refugees fleeing violence in Myanmar. But humanitarian assistance, however essential, cannot be a permanent solution. The longer the crisis continues, the greater the burden becomes for Bangladesh—and the greater the risks become for the refugees themselves.

The fundamental question is therefore becoming increasingly difficult to avoid: How long can Bangladesh continue to manage the crisis without a credible pathway to resolving it?

Food, healthcare, education and shelter remain essential for the Rohingya population. International humanitarian assistance must continue. But relief programmes address the consequences of displacement, not its root causes.

The central issue remains unchanged: why are the Rohingya unable to return safely to their homeland, and what must be done to create the conditions for a voluntary, safe and dignified return?That is where diplomacy must take centre stage.

A humanitarian crisis with security implications 

The prolonged presence of large refugee communities has placed significant pressure on Bangladesh, particularly in Cox’s Bazar and surrounding areas. Local infrastructure, public services, the environment and economic opportunities have all faced additional pressure.

There is also a growing security dimension. Concerns over organised crime, human trafficking, narcotics networks, illegal arms flows and the activities of armed groups in and around refugee camps cannot be ignored. At the same time, it is important not to stigmatise the Rohingya population as a whole. The overwhelming majority are victims of displacement who want security, basic rights and the opportunity to return home.

The challenge for Bangladesh is to protect the refugee population while preventing criminal and armed networks from exploiting the vulnerability created by prolonged displacement. This requires stronger law enforcement, intelligence cooperation, border surveillance and action against trafficking and organised crime. But security measures must also remain consistent with humanitarian principles. Ordinary refugees should not become victims of collective suspicion or punishment.

Myanmar remains at the centre of the problem

Ultimately, the Rohingya crisis cannot be permanently resolved inside Bangladesh because the root of the displacement lies in Myanmar. The continuing instability in Myanmar, particularly in Rakhine State, makes the prospect of safe and sustainable repatriation increasingly complicated. If conditions inside Rakhine do not allow refugees to return with adequate security and basic rights, simply sending people back would not constitute a genuine solution.

Unsafe repatriation is not a solution; it risks creating another cycle of displacement. For that reason, Bangladesh must continue to insist that any repatriation process be voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable. The international community also has a responsibility that goes beyond humanitarian fundraising.

From aid diplomacy to solution-oriented diplomacy

For years, international attention has focused heavily on humanitarian assistance. That support has been indispensable. But the international response cannot remain confined to raising funds to sustain refugee camps indefinitely. The objective must now be to build a credible international framework for a lasting political solution.

Bangladesh should intensify diplomatic engagement with the United Nations, regional organisations and countries capable of exercising political and economic influence over Myanmar. The major powers and regional actors must be encouraged to play a more active role in creating conditions for safe and sustainable repatriation.

Diplomatic discussions should move beyond general expressions of concern. There must be greater focus on practical questions: security guarantees, citizenship and legal rights, freedom of movement, access to essential services, property and livelihood rights, and international monitoring of the repatriation process. Without addressing these issues, repatriation risks becoming a numbers exercise rather than a durable solution.

Bangladesh cannot carry the burden indefinitely

Bangladesh has already carried a substantial humanitarian and economic burden. International support for refugees must therefore continue, but the burden on host communities must also receive greater attention. The people of Cox’s Bazar and surrounding areas should not feel that they have been forgotten while international attention remains focused exclusively on the refugee population.

Development assistance should therefore address both refugees and host communities. Infrastructure, healthcare, education, employment opportunities and environmental protection require sustained investment. This is not about placing refugees and local residents against each other. It is about recognising that long-term stability depends on supporting both communities.

The next generation is at stake

Perhaps the most serious long-term concern is the future of Rohingya children and young people. A generation is growing up in an environment defined by displacement and uncertainty. Without adequate education, skills and hope for a better future, prolonged marginalisation can create frustration and vulnerability to exploitation by criminal or armed groups.

Education and skills development must therefore remain central to the humanitarian response. Providing young Rohingya with opportunities is not simply an act of charity; it is also an investment in regional stability.

At the same time, Bangladesh must strengthen the security and governance of the camps without turning them into permanent detention-like environments. Humanitarian protection and security are not mutually exclusive. In fact, effective humanitarian management can itself reduce security risks.

Bangladesh needs a stronger diplomatic strategy

Bangladesh now needs to move beyond crisis management towards a more comprehensive diplomatic strategy. The country should pursue three objectives simultaneously: protecting the humanitarian rights of the Rohingya, safeguarding Bangladesh’s national security, and creating sustained international pressure for safe and dignified repatriation.

These objectives should not be treated as competing priorities. They are interconnected parts of the same solution. Bangladesh should also ensure that the Rohingya issue remains on the international agenda. Global attention tends to shift as new conflicts and crises emerge. But the absence of headlines does not mean the crisis has disappeared.

Diplomatic engagement must therefore be continuous, coordinated and evidence-based. Bangladesh has a strong moral and legal argument for seeking international support. But moral appeals alone are not enough. Dhaka needs a clear strategy, measurable diplomatic objectives and stronger coordination with countries that have influence over Myanmar.

Relief must continue—but it cannot be the destination

The international community should not mistake the relative stability of the refugee camps for resolution of the crisis. A camp can provide temporary shelter. It cannot replace a homeland. Humanitarian assistance can save lives. It cannot resolve statelessness. International funding can sustain basic services. It cannot guarantee a political settlement. That is why the international response must evolve from relief diplomacy to solution-oriented diplomacy.

Bangladesh should continue providing humanitarian protection, but it should also make clear that the country cannot be expected to carry the consequences of a crisis it did not create indefinitely. The Rohingya crisis has reached a point where humanitarian responsibility and national security must be addressed together. Ignoring either dimension would be a mistake.

Bangladesh needs stronger border security, better camp management and tougher action against criminal networks. But it also needs sustained international diplomacy aimed at changing the conditions that made mass displacement possible in the first place.

The ultimate solution lies not in making refugee camps more permanent, but in making return possible. The Rohingya crisis will not be solved by relief alone. It will be solved when diplomacy produces the conditions for a safe, voluntary and dignified return.

For Bangladesh, the message should now be clear: aid must continue, but the goal must be a solution. The Rohingya crisis cannot remain a permanent humanitarian burden when what is urgently needed is a lasting political and diplomatic settlement.

DHAKA: State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam has said the government is committed to protecting human rights and ensuring that no citizen is detained or imprisoned unjustly because of political affiliation or vendetta.

“The government will definitely ensure that no one is unjustly imprisoned or detained due to political vendetta,” she told journalists at the foreign ministry on Wednesday.

Shama said the government’s commitment to due process and fundamental rights extends to supporters of all political parties, including opposition parties and the Awami League, whose activities are currently banned.

“No party, be it the opposition party, Awami League, or any party, the current government will definitely ensure that no one is unjustly imprisoned or detained due to political vendetta,” she said.

The State Minister alleged that Bangladesh had experienced widespread human rights violations over the past 17 years, saying BNP leaders and activists were among the major victims.

“The kind of human rights that have been violated in Bangladesh in the last 17 years has never been violated in the history of Bangladesh,” she said.

“The biggest victim is the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, its leaders and activists,” she added.

Shama said the government would not allow a return to what she described as the country’s previous “fascist era” and would work to protect the fundamental rights of every citizen.

“We will never want the past fascist era to return now or in the future. We want all human rights to be ensured to every citizen,” she said.

She said the government has a responsibility to protect citizens’ rights and ensure that the justice system is not used for political revenge.

“Our government’s stand is that we are trying to protect human rights. We are responsible to the people,” she said.

Bangladesh policy guides foreign relations

Turning to foreign policy, Shama said Bangladesh’s approach is focused on protecting national interests while maintaining balanced and respectful relations with all countries.

“Our foreign policy is first and foremost a ‘Bangladesh policy’… with equal rights with everyone and maintaining our own interests with respect,” she said.

She said the elected government’s political mandate had strengthened Bangladesh’s position in negotiations with international partners.

“When Bangladesh is talking, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh is talking, then all the other stakeholders including China are listening to our words with more attention, more seriously,” she said.

“Now that Bangladesh is an elected government, we have a stronger position in our negotiation space,” she added.

Rohingya crisis requires political solution

On the Rohingya crisis, Shama said Bangladesh would use its strengthened diplomatic position to encourage greater international engagement and push for a lasting political solution.

“The matter is absolutely a political problem, it is a very sensitive matter and we need to solve this problem politically,” she said.

She said Bangladesh remains engaged in both official and unofficial communication with various stakeholders in Myanmar as part of efforts to resolve the crisis.

“We are trying to involve the international community more,” she said, referring to a high-level UN session on the Rohingya crisis scheduled for September, which Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to attend.

Bangladesh will also explore whether greater involvement from the Muslim world could help increase pressure on Myanmar and create momentum towards a solution, she said.

According to Shama, the crisis has become increasingly complex since the massive influx of Rohingyas into Bangladesh began in 2017, particularly because of Myanmar’s changing political and security landscape.

She pointed to the emergence of the Arakan Army and other actors in Rakhine State, as well as growing security concerns along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, including human smuggling and drug trafficking.

Shama said it was difficult to determine the exact number of Rohingyas currently living in Bangladesh because of continued arrivals and births in the camps.

“We don’t know the exact number right now, but it will definitely be over 1.3 million,” she said, adding that an estimated 30,000 children are born in the camps each year.

She said Chinese President Xi Jinping had expressed Beijing’s willingness to cooperate with Bangladesh in finding a solution to the Rohingya crisis during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s recent visit to China.

Shama also questioned the effectiveness of existing arrangements for resolving the crisis without stronger involvement from the United Nations and other major international stakeholders.

She said Bangladesh could gain additional diplomatic leverage from Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman’s upcoming role as President of the UN General Assembly.

“From that place, we have a power to speak for Bangladesh in the international community. We think that at least in the next year, we will be able to use this capacity a little better,” she said.

Shama reiterated that Bangladesh would continue to pursue a “Bangladesh policy” in its international relations, protecting national interests while maintaining ties with other countries on the basis of equality and mutual respect.