Prime Minister Tarique Rahman left Dhaka for New York early Monday to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

“He departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for New York at around 5:45am,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a Facebook post.

The Turkish Airlines flight is scheduled to reach Istanbul Airport at around 11:35am local time. After a brief transit, the prime minister will continue his journey to New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport, where he is expected to arrive at around 5:55pm local time.

His wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, is accompanying him on the trip.

A 38-member delegation, including several cabinet members, political figures, senior government officials and personal staff, is also accompanying the prime minister.

The delegation includes Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman, Prime Minister’s Adviser Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Ministers for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir and Shama Obaed Islam, State Minister for Sports Md Aminul Haque and State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj.

Prime Minister’s Advisers Mahdi Amin and Rehan Asif Asad, Invest Bangladesh Authority Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, and Prime Minister’s Special Assistants Tanvir Shahriar Ghani, SM Ziauddin Hyder and Dr Md Saimum Parvez are also part of the delegation.

Tarique is scheduled to deliver his maiden address as Bangladesh’s prime minister at the UNGA on September 24.

This year’s UNGA holds particular significance for Bangladesh as Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman is serving as president of the 81st session of the General Assembly.

The prime minister is scheduled to leave New York for Dhaka on September 25.