Tarique Rahman makes rare history at UN

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has made a rare history as the third member of his family to address the United Nations General Assembly. He delivered his first speech at the 81st session of the UN's general debate.

His first UN speech, delivered entirely in Bangla on Thursday, opened new horizons for Bangladesh's democratic transition and international diplomacy, as well as writing a rare chapter in UN history.

In the history of the UN General Assembly, three members of the same family—father, mother and son—have never before addressed the General Assembly as head of state or government.

Maintaining that family tradition, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman presented the hopes and aspirations, human rights, justice and democratic spirit of millions of Bangladeshis in his mother tongue on the world stage.

He delivered the speech at the General Assembly hall in the afternoon New York time.

Addressing the President of the UN General Assembly in his speech, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said, "Standing on this world stage of the United Nations, I am somewhat nostalgic at this moment. Standing on this very world stage, my father, the declarer of Bangladesh's independence, martyred President Ziaur Rahman, and my mother, former Prime Minister the late Khaleda Zia, addressed on behalf of the country and its people. In the same way, today I too stand here on behalf of my country and its people and in the hope of a peaceful world society."

In his speech, the Prime Minister presented Bangladesh's vision and priorities before the international community.

Special importance was given to climate change, world peace and security, sustainable development, economic cooperation, humanitarian issues and the Rohingya crisis.

Tarique Rahman's speech at the UN General Assembly added a new chapter to his family's engagement with the UN General Assembly spanning more than four decades.

His father, martyred President Ziaur Rahman, was the first member of the family to address the 11th special session of the General Assembly on August 26, 1980.

In that speech, Ziaur Rahman focused on the growing gap between rich and poor countries, poverty and hunger, economic development and the need for greater international cooperation.

He also called for building a world based on peace, human dignity, justice and a sense of mutual responsibility among nations.

Thirteen years later, on October 1, 1993, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's mother and the country's first female Prime Minister, Begum Khaleda Zia, addressed the 48th session of the UN General Assembly.

According to UN documents, she addressed the General Assembly sessions a total of five times between 1993 and 2005.

Additionally, Khaleda Zia addressed a special meeting held on the occasion of the UN's 50th anniversary in 1995, the 27th special session on children in 2002 and two separate meetings during the 60th session in 2005.