New York:Prime Minister Tarique Rahman participated in ten scheduled programs on his first day at the 81st United Nations General Assembly, prioritizing Bangladesh's diplomatic, regional, humanitarian, and economic interests, according to his Adviser and Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Spokesperson Mahdi Amin.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Mahdi Amin briefed reporters at the Bangladesh Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, explaining that the day's engagements covered multilateral, regional, and bilateral issues, the Rohingya crisis, and development cooperation. Rahman began the day with a breakfast hosted by UN Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres for heads of delegation and their spouses, followed by the opening session of the General Debate.
Regionally, Prime Minister Rahman held meetings with the prime minister of Bhutan and the vice-president of the Maldives, as well as bilateral discussions with Haiti's prime minister and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir noted that these meetings aimed to strengthen Bangladesh's relations and partnerships, including cooperation in areas of shared interest.
The meeting with Turkey's President focused on a comprehensive partnership covering defense and investment, as well as international and multilateral cooperation. The Prime Minister of Bhutan discussed the special relationship between the two countries and ways to further enhance their partnership.
Regarding the Rohingya crisis, Prime Minister Rahman engaged with UNHCR representatives and the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy on Myanmar, emphasizing the safe, voluntary, and dignified repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar. Additionally, he met with World Bank Group President Ajay Banga to discuss Bangladesh's development priorities and ways to enhance cooperation with the global lender. Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury stated that the World Bank agreed to support Bangladesh in dealing with external economic shocks and to expand youth entrepreneurship and employment programs.
The Prime Minister's schedule also included discussions with international development partners and representatives from the technology sector. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam mentioned that a high-level team met with Meta in the Prime Minister's absence due to time constraints, discussing the company's relationship with Bangladesh and issues related to digital platforms.
Mahdi Amin noted that Prime Minister Rahman's engagements underscored the government's efforts to prioritize Bangladesh's interests on the international stage. Although he was unable to attend meetings with the European Council and Meta due to time constraints, Rahman is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Thursday, marking his first speech there as prime minister.