Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will leave Dhaka for New York on Monday and is scheduled to deliver his first address to the United Nations General Assembly on September 24 during the general debate of its 81st session.

Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam outlined the visit and the broad themes of the address at a briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday. According to BSS, the speech is expected to cover Bangladesh’s democratic journey, rule of law and accountability, global peace and security, climate change, sustainable development, economic cooperation, youth and women’s empowerment, education and health, the Rohingya crisis, equitable access to modern technology and reform of the multilateral system.

Rahman is scheduled to begin his official engagements on September 22 with a welcome breakfast hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, followed by the opening of the General Assembly session. He is also due to attend a reception hosted by the US president for heads of state and government and their spouses.

On September 23, the prime minister is expected to join high-level meetings on global inequality and climate action. At a Bangladesh-hosted side event on the Rohingya crisis, he is expected to seek international cooperation toward the safe return of forcibly displaced Rohingya to Myanmar.

His September 24 programme includes opening remarks at a high-level meeting on threats posed by sea-level rise. Bangladesh’s climate priorities at the meetings are expected to include climate finance, adaptation, technology transfer and loss and damage.

On the sidelines of the UNGA, Rahman is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with the Crown Prince of Kuwait and the prime ministers of Croatia, Bhutan, Thailand, Pakistan and Haiti. Meetings are also planned with the UN secretary-general, the president of the European Council, the president of the World Bank Group and other senior international officials.

The prime minister is scheduled to leave New York for Dhaka on the night of September 25.

Sources: BSS; Ministry of Foreign Affairs briefing.