Published : 22 Sep 2026, 11:35 AM
Updated : 22 Sep 2026, 11:35 AM
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s delegation has faced questions about whether he could meet US President Donald Trump separately during his four-day visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly.
The press conference was held at 9pm local time on Monday in the lobby of the Hyatt Grand Central New York hotel, where the prime minister is staying.
Asked whether there was any opportunity or arrangement for a separate meeting with Trump amid more than 10 bilateral, multilateral and courtesy engagements, Humaiun said the visit was focused on the UN General Assembly rather than bilateral diplomacy.
Trump had already expressed interest in meeting Tarique, he said, referring to a letter the US president sent to the prime minister.
“That's bilateral,” the state minister said, adding that the two sides could consider such a meeting at an appropriate time convenient for both sides.
He said there would be little scope for bilateral discussions outside the UN framework during the current visit.
Trump wrote to Tarique on Aug 31, thanking him for deciding to buy Boeing aircraft from the United States and expressing hope of meeting him “in the near future”.
The US president said Boeing would not disappoint Bangladesh and that he would not forget the decision to purchase the aircraft.
Asked about domestic politics, Humaiun said it would have little place in the discussions during the visit.
The main focus, he said, would be to present Bangladesh’s image to the world and share Tarique’s vision and policy plans for the country following the democratic transition.
“Multilateral discussions will get greater importance here,” Humaiun said, adding that Bangladesh’s domestic politics would have very little room in the talks.
Mahdi Amin, spokesman for the Prime Minister’s Office, said the delegation had broken with the traditional practice of taking a large entourage on overseas visits.
The official delegation has 33 members, he said, apart from essential media, security and personal staff.
The smaller delegation is intended to ensure that the prime minister can effectively represent Bangladesh’s interests, people’s rights and inclusive development in bilateral and multilateral discussions, Mahdi said.
