PM to attend 81st UN General Assembly on September 21

Prime Minister Tarek Rahman is expected to travel to New York on September 21 to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, according to officials at Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If the schedule remains unchanged, he will later visit San Francisco during the nine-day trip.

Foreign ministry officials said preparations are under way for the prime minister’s US visit. Work is also continuing to secure US visas for members of his entourage. A note verbale has been sent by the ministry to the US Embassy in Dhaka formally notifying it of the matter.

Officials concerned said the prime minister is set to deliver an address at the UN General Assembly for the first time as head of government, following his visits to Malaysia and China. Tarek Rahman is also expected to attend various events on the sidelines of the General Assembly.

The prime minister is also scheduled to take part in an exchange meeting with Bangladeshi expatriates in San Francisco.

The visit comes at a time when Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman is set to serve as president of the General Assembly.

Meanwhile, discussions had been under way over a possible bilateral visit by the prime minister to India, but the matter did not progress further. On August 21, his Press Secretary Saleh Shibli told Reuters that no decision had yet been made on Prime Minister Tarek Rahman’s visit to India.

Saleh Shibli also said Dhaka was awaiting India’s response regarding the extradition of Sheikh Hasina and other fugitive accused.