PM prioritising country’s interests, global standing at UNGA: Mahdi Amin

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman prioritised Bangladesh’s national and people’s interests while seeking to strengthen the country’s standing on the global stage during his first day of engagements at the 81st UN General Assembly in New York, his adviser Mahdi Amin said.

Speaking at a press conference at the Bangladesh Permanent Mission to the United Nations on Tuesday evening (September 22), Mahdi said the prime minister took part in 10 engagements covering bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, regional cooperation, the Rohingya crisis and development partnerships.

The prime minister began the day by attending a breakfast hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres for world leaders and their spouses, alongside his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman. He later joined the opening session of the UN General Assembly.

The prime minister held separate meetings with Bhutanese Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay and Maldivian Vice-President Uz Hussain Mohamed Latheef, discussing stronger bilateral ties and cooperation in tourism, education, health and people-to-people connectivity.

He also met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss bilateral relations and multilateral cooperation. Erdogan invited Tarique to visit Türkiye, Mahdi said. The prime minister separately met Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé to discuss Haiti’s security situation and the possible use of Bangladesh’s UN peacekeeping experience there.

The Rohingya crisis featured prominently in the day’s discussions. The prime minister met UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar Julie Bishop and UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih, stressing international cooperation to create conditions for the safe, voluntary and dignified return of Rohingyas sheltered in Bangladesh. A Bangladesh-Gambia joint high-level side event on the crisis is scheduled for Wednesday.

He also met World Bank Group President Ajay Banga to discuss Bangladesh’s development priorities, economic progress and cooperation in education, health, employment, trade, regulatory reform and other areas.

Mahdi said scheduled direct meetings with the European Council president and Meta could not take place, although a high-level Bangladeshi delegation held talks with Meta on issues including its large user base in Bangladesh.

The prime minister also attended a reception hosted by US President Donald Trump for world leaders and their spouses. He is scheduled to deliver his first address to the UN General Assembly as prime minister on September 24.