Istanbul:Prime Minister Tarique Rahman left Istanbul for Dhaka this evening, concluding his three-day official visit to Turkiye, where he attended the COP31 World Leaders’ Summit.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, a Turkish Airlines flight carrying the prime minister, his wife Dr. Zubaida Rahman, and members of his entourage departed Istanbul airport around 800 pm local time. The flight is expected to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at around 550 am Bangladesh time tomorrow.
During his visit, Tarique Rahman addressed the High-Level Segment of the COP31 World Leaders’ Summit and visited both the Bangladesh Pavilion and the Green Zone of the conference. The Green Zone featured displays of environment-friendly jute products. On the sidelines of the summit, he engaged in bilateral meetings with several global leaders, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The prime minister also met with other dignitaries, such as Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and UK Foreign Secretary Edward Miliband. He paid courtesy calls on the presidents of Brazil, the Maldives, Iran, Syria, and Somalia, as well as the prime ministers of Moldova, Pakistan, and Kuwait. Additionally, he met the Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Mayor of London, and representatives of various international organizations.
The discussions primarily focused on strengthening bilateral relations, expanding trade and investment, addressing climate change, enhancing diplomatic cooperation, and seeking a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis. The prime minister and Dr. Zubaida Rahman attended a dinner hosted by President Erdogan and First Lady Emine Erdogan in honor of the world leaders attending COP31. Dr. Zubaida also attended a luncheon hosted by Emine Erdogan in Antalya for the spouses of heads of state and government and other distinguished guests.