Onlline Desk

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has returned to Dhaka after a five-day visit to New York to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

An Emirates Airlines flight, EK-582, carrying the prime minister landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Sunday (September 27) morning.

The prime minister left New York on the night of September 25 local time for his return journey to Bangladesh. He arrived in Dhaka via Dubai. His wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, and other members of his delegation accompanied him during the visit.

A key highlight of the trip was the prime minister’s first-ever address to the general debate of the 81st UNGA session. He also held a series of meetings with heads of state and government, UN officials, representatives of international organisations and development partners.

According to Prime Minister’s Adviser and Office Spokesperson Mahdi Amin, the prime minister took part in a total of 30 official engagements during his four-day programme in New York. These included bilateral meetings with 11 countries, eight UNGA-related programmes and four high-level events held on the sidelines of the session.

The meetings focused on a range of issues, including Bangladesh’s national interests, trade and investment, manpower exports, energy security, regional cooperation, the Rohingya crisis, healthcare, climate change and international peace.

In his UNGA address, Tarique Rahman presented Bangladesh’s position on global peace and security, climate change, sustainable development and humanitarian crises. He also called for greater international cooperation to ensure the safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of Rohingya refugees as part of a lasting solution to the crisis.

During his visit, the prime minister held meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Bhutanese Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay, Maldives Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef and World Bank Group President Ajay Banga, among other leaders and representatives of international organisations.

He also participated in several high-level events focusing on climate change, rising sea levels, maternal and child health, and midwifery. During the visit, an agreement was also signed between Boeing and Biman Bangladesh Airlines for the purchase of 11 aircraft.

Prime Minister’s wife Dr Zubaida Rahman participated in eight high-level programmes during the visit, delivering remarks at four of them. Her engagements included the UN Platform of Women Leaders, the First Spouses’ Dialogue, and high-level events on maternal and child health and midwifery.

With his return to Bangladesh after the five-day visit, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s New York trip centred on the 81st UN General Assembly session has come to an end.