Mynul Hasan Sohel (Dhaka Bureau)
Bangladesh is set to witness a historic moment at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Today, Thursday, September 24, during the afternoon session in New York (3:00 AM Bangladesh Time), Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will proudly take the podium on the world stage. Delivered entirely in Bengali, his maiden UN address will not only unveil a new horizon for Bangladesh’s democratic transition and international diplomacy but also write a rare chapter in UN history.
Never before in the history of the UN General Assembly have three members of a single family- father, mother, and their son- addressed the assembly as heads of state or government. Notably, late President Ziaur Rahman represented Bangladesh on August 26, 1980, and later, in 1993, Begum Khaleda Zia represented the nation as its first female Prime Minister. Continuing their legacy today, Tarique Rahman will articulate the hopes, aspirations, human rights, justice, and democratic spirit of millions of Bangladeshis in his mother tongue before the global community.
High-Level Diplomatic and Economic Engagement
Since arriving for the UN session, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has maintained a packed schedule featuring bilateral meetings, humanitarian initiatives, and multilateral diplomatic discussions.
Bilateral Talks with the UN Secretary-General and World Leaders
The visit commenced with the Prime Minister and his spouse, Dr. Zubaida Rahman, attending a reception hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres. He then held bilateral meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, and high-level representatives from the OIC and the European Union. Furthermore, fruitful discussions took place with World Bank President Ajay Banga, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih, and top executives from Meta Global regarding good governance, economic cooperation, and the constructive use of digital technology. On the first evening, he also attended the global reception hosted by US President Donald Trump.
Major Milestone with the Gates Foundation in Health, Agriculture, and Human Resources
On September 23, the Prime Minister held a highly significant meeting with a senior delegation from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He outlined a major roadmap to achieve self-reliance in Bangladesh’s health sector by manufacturing vaccines domestically and appointing 100,000 new healthcare workers. In a landmark step toward women’s empowerment, 80 percent of these recruits will be women. The Foundation offered full technical and financial support, assuring that a team of experts will visit Bangladesh shortly.
A Specific 5-Point Plan for a Sustainable Solution to the Rohingya Crisis
Presiding over a sideline meeting titled ‘Justice and Accountability,’ jointly organized by Bangladesh and The Gambia, Tarique Rahman presented a 5-point proposal to resolve the Rohingya crisis. Highlighting the international funding shortfall for over 1.2 million displaced persons currently residing in Bangladesh, he urged the international community to ensure their safe and dignified repatriation to Myanmar. Global leaders lauded the humanitarian leadership of Bangladesh’s elected government and expressed solid solidarity with the nation.
Environmental Protection, River Conservation, and Climate Fund Demands
During the session on ‘Climate Action and Just Transition,’ the Prime Minister presented a 5-point proposal on behalf of climate-vulnerable nations. Bangladesh’s mega-projects- including excavating 20,000 kilometers of rivers and canals for river and climate conservation, planting 250 million trees over five years, the Teesta Master Plan, the construction of the Padma Barrage, and transitioning to green energy via solar power- received widespread acclaim from international delegates. He also demanded Bangladesh’s fair share from international climate funds to guarantee compensation.
Boeing Deal and Commercial Diplomacy
As part of commercial diplomacy, a strategic agreement was signed between US aircraft manufacturer Boeing and Biman Bangladesh Airlines. The presence of top US officials- including US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, and Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Paul Kapoor- underscores promising new avenues for bilateral trade and economic relations between Dhaka and Washington.
Afternoon Schedule for September 24 and Address
Today, September 24, the Prime Minister will deliver opening remarks at a high-level session on the existential threat posed by sea-level rise. Following separate meetings with Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, and the UN Secretary-General, he will address the UN General Assembly in Bengali at 5:30 PM local time (3:00 AM Bangladesh Time).
His itinerary will conclude with a dinner hosted by the Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN, followed by an exchange of greetings with the Bangladeshi diaspora in New York on September 25 before departing for home.
Mynul Hasan Sohel: Special Correspondent, The Daily Inqilab; Executive Editor (Honorary), Pressenza- Dhaka Bureau and General Secretary, Dhaka Reporters Unity.