Photo: Collected
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has returned home after attending COP31, the UN climate change conference, in Türkiye.
A Turkish Airlines flight carrying the prime minister, his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and his entourage landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at around 5:40am today, Friday.
The prime minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atiqur Rahman Rumon told BSS this.
At the end of the three-day official visit to Türkiye, the flight left Istanbul Airport at around 8pm local time on Thursday. Before that, the prime minister set off from Antalya for Istanbul, landing at Istanbul Airport at 6:30pm.
The prime minister left Antalya at 4:30pm. At the airport there, senior Turkish foreign ministry official and Ambassador Subutay Yuksel saw him off.
At Shahjalal Airport, the prime minister was received by Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, BNP acting secretary general and the prime minister’s political adviser Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, Jatiya Sangsad Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni, Dhaka North BNP member secretary and MP SM Jahangir Hossain, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani and the prime minister’s Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar.
During the visit, besides attending the 31st world climate conference (COP31), the prime minister held a series of bilateral meetings with world leaders.
He arrived in Antalya on 10 November on a three-day visit to join COP31 and the Antalya Leaders’ Summit. On Thursday, the prime minister addressed the high-level segment of COP31, where he outlined five urgent steps to meet the needs of climate-vulnerable countries.
On the sidelines of the conference, he held bilateral meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and UK Foreign Secretary Edward Miliband.
The prime minister held courtesy meetings with the presidents of Brazil, the Maldives, Iran, Syria and Somalia. He also met the prime ministers of Moldova, Pakistan and Kuwait. He also held meetings with the secretary general of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Mayor of London and representatives of various international organisations.
His meeting with President Erdogan covered political relations, mutual cooperation and various international issues, including Bangladesh’s possible role in establishing peace in the Muslim world. The prime minister highlighted Bangladesh’s long experience and contribution in UN peacekeeping operations.
In his meeting with Australian Prime Minister Albanese, he sought Australia’s cooperation in expanding investment in Bangladesh and in ensuring the safe repatriation to Myanmar of the Rohingyas sheltered in Bangladesh.
In talks with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, the two sides discussed strengthening political and economic ties. Emphasis was placed on Chinese investment in energy, heavy industry, infrastructure and job creation.
The prime minister urged UK Foreign Secretary Miliband for the UK to help step up diplomatic efforts on Myanmar to ensure the safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of the Rohingyas. Bangladesh’s climate adaptation work, migration and ways to strengthen bilateral economic ties were also discussed.
Tarique Rahman discussed launching direct flights, easing visa procedures and expanding bilateral cooperation with Uzbek President Mirziyoyev. The Uzbek president invited him to visit Uzbekistan, and the prime minister expressed hope of making the visit in the new year.
The leaders congratulated the prime minister on Bangladesh’s democratic transition and on winning the mandate in the election, and expressed interest in strengthening bilateral ties. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa sought Bangladesh’s cooperation in reconstruction, investment, skilled manpower and employment.
The meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif discussed regional stability, the situation in the Middle East and matters of mutual interest.
Talks with Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah focused on the long-standing friendly relations and on further strengthening investment and economic partnership.
These meetings focused on strengthening bilateral ties, boosting trade and investment, tackling climate change, increasing diplomatic cooperation and finding a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis.
Dr Zubaida Rahman took part in a side event on zero-waste management. There she highlighted the government’s policy initiatives aimed at turning waste into resources and energy, and stressed the need for technical cooperation in this area.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman also attended a dinner hosted by President Erdogan and First Lady Emine Erdogan in honour of the world leaders attending COP31.
Dr Zubaida Rahman also attended a luncheon hosted by Emine Erdogan in Antalya in honour of the spouses of heads of state and government and other distinguished guests.
At a glance
According to the 25 September 2026 version of the schedule of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change secretariat (UNFCCC), the main session of COP31 in Antalya runs from 9 to 20 November 2026, with the world leaders’ summit (Leaders’ Summit) held on 11 and 12 November.
According to the UNFCCC website, the Antalya Leaders’ Summit was opened on Wednesday, 11 November, led by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Sources
Original report: BSS — https://www.bssnews.net/bangla/news-flash/359416
Background sources: UNFCCC (COP31 overview schedule), 25 September 2026 — https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/COP_31_Overview_Schedule.pdf; UNFCCC (Antalya Leaders’ Summit), November 2026 — https://unfccc.int/node/662632
