Published : 21 Sep 2026, 08:34 AM
Updated : 21 Sep 2026, 08:34 AM
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has left Dhaka for New York to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
He has been scheduled to address the General Debate on the afternoon of Sept 24, local time.
Tarique and his wife Zubaida Rahman flew out of Shahjalal International Airport on a Turkish Airlines flight after 6am on Monday, his Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman said.
"The prime minister will lead a compact, high-powered delegation,” he added.
The delegation includes Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Civil Aviation Minister Rashiduzzaman Millat, Prime Minister's Finance Advisor Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman, State Ministers Humaiun Kobir and Shama Obaed, and Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam.
Local Government Minister Abdul Moyeen Khan, Prime Minister's Political Advisor Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Chief Whip of Parliament Nurul Islam Moni and senior government officials saw the premier off at Shahjalal Airport.
Tarique's official engagements in New York begin on Sept 22.
In the morning, he will attend a breakfast hosted by the UN secretary-general for heads of state and government, followed by the opening ceremony of this year's session alongside other world leaders.
That afternoon, he will attend a high-level meeting on “Climate Action and the Just Transition”, organised by the UN secretary-general.
Tarique will then deliver his address to the assembly on the afternoon of Sept 24.
Like his predecessors, he will speak in Bangla, Foreign Secretary Siam said.
At a media briefing on Sunday, Siam said: "In his speech, [the prime minister] will highlight Bangladesh's democratic renewal, 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 use of modern technology, and reform of the multilateral system."
Bangladesh's participation carries particular weight this year, the foreign secretary said, citing several reasons.
“First, this is the current government's debut appearance on the UN's highest global platform, offering an opportunity to present the new administration's political commitments and vision for Bangladesh's future to the world.
"Second, [Tarique] will represent Bangladesh at the UN General Assembly for the first time, while Bangladesh's foreign minister will simultaneously preside over the same session. This is both a rare, historic moment for us and a matter of particular honour and pride," he added.
On Sept 24, the prime minister will deliver the opening address at a high-level meeting on existential threats posed by rising sea levels, at the invitation of the session's president and Bangladesh's foreign minister.
At these meetings, he will present Bangladesh's strong position as a climate-vulnerable country on climate financing, adaptation, technology transfer, loss and damage, and climate justice, the foreign secretary said.
Siam also outlined the prime minister's participation in two key side events organised by Bangladesh.
On Sept 23, he will attend a side event on the Rohingya crisis, where he will call for effective support from the international community to repatriate Rohingya refugees to Myanmar as swiftly as possible.
Tarique will speak as chief guest at another side event on maternal and newborn health and midwifery on Sept 24.
He will outline the new government's initiatives and future plans for protecting maternal and child health, and stress the need for skilled, trained midwifery services in healthcare.
Alongside the summit, the prime minister will hold bilateral meetings with top leaders from several countries.
Siam said meetings with the crown prince of Kuwait and the prime ministers of Croatia, Bhutan, Thailand, Pakistan and Haiti were being finalised.
He added that the prime minister is also scheduled to meet UN Secretary-General António Guterres, European Council President António Costa, the president of the World Bank Group, the UN secretary-general's special envoy on Myanmar, the UN high commissioner for Refugees, the UN high commissioner for Human Rights, and the president of the International Peace Institute.
As part of economic diplomacy, the prime minister's schedule also includes meetings with top representatives from Wall Street, Meta and other business entities, the foreign secretary said.
"Overall, I believe this visit will create an important opportunity to present the new government's fresh journey to the world, while expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation," he said.
"Through this, we want to send the world a message of a democratic, confident, responsible, peace-loving and promising Bangladesh."
The prime minister is scheduled to leave New York for Bangladesh on the night of Sept 25.
