‘Beginning of a new history on world stage for Bangladesh’s interests’, Mahdi Amin says on PM’s UNGA visit

Prime Minister’s Adviser and Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson Mahdi Amin on Monday said Tarique Rahman’s visit to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) marks a special moment in Bangladesh’s history as the prime minister left Dhaka early Monday for New York to attend the event.

“It marks the beginning of a new chapter on the world stage concerning Bangladesh’s interests, dignity and future,” Mahdi wrote in a Facebook post.

Mahdi is also travelling to New York as part of the 35-member delegation accompanying Tarique.

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.

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

Mahdi said 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 while the prime minister represents Bangladesh on the world stage.

“It is another unique aspect to the visit,” he wrote.

Mahdi said the visit will be packed with a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings, high-level UN programmes and diplomatic engagements aimed at advancing Bangladesh’s interests.

“No pomp or ceremony; work for the people,” he wrote.

The adviser said the visit comes after two decades of relentless sacrifice, struggle and a mass uprising, following which a democratically elected government is now in charge of running the state.

“Emboldened with a strong mandate, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is taking the voice of the people of Bangladesh to the world,” he wrote.