Photo: Collected
Huge enthusiasm has been created among expatriate Bangladeshis over Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to New York to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. The expatriates have made extensive preparations to accord him a warm reception.
This enthusiasm is most visible in Jackson Heights, the hub of Bangladeshis in New York. On the occasion of the prime minister’s arrival, the roads and important spots there have been decorated with banners, posters and festoons. Various individuals and social organisations have taken up different programmes.
A large part of the activities of these organisations is being run by leaders and activists of BNP and its affiliated and associate bodies.
They have held several preparatory meetings to finalise the welcome programme and have been maintaining coordination among themselves in the Bangladeshi-inhabited areas of New York.
Special attention has also been paid to maintaining discipline at the programmes scheduled at the airport and in front of the UN headquarters.
According to Bangladeshi community sources, 34 preparatory meetings have been held so far with US BNP, its affiliated and associate bodies and former leaders of the party.
At a meeting in Jackson Heights last Thursday, BNP leaders discussed the various arrangements centring on the prime minister’s arrival. BNP’s central International Affairs Secretary Anwar Hossain Khokon presided over the meeting.
US and New York State BNP, Jubo Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal, Sramik Dal and other affiliated and associate bodies have put up banners welcoming the prime minister.
Expatriate Bangladeshis have also put up posters and banners on their own initiative. These carry pictures of Tarique Rahman, martyred President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will leave Dhaka for New York tomorrow, Monday, and will address the 81st session of the UN General Assembly on 24 September.
Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam said various issues will get importance in the prime minister’s speech, including Bangladesh’s new democratic journey, rule of law and accountability, global peace and security, climate change, sustainable development, economic cooperation, empowerment of youth and women, education and health, the Rohingya crisis, equitable and inclusive use of modern technology, and reform of the multilateral system.
The protracted Rohingya crisis will get special importance during this visit. The prime minister is scheduled to take part in a side event on the issue organised by Bangladesh on 23 September, where he will call for further strengthening international cooperation for the speedy repatriation of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas to Myanmar.
Bangladesh’s position is that the safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable return of the Rohingyas to Myanmar is the only effective and lasting solution to this crisis.
The issue of climate change will also come up strongly in the UN proceedings. On 23 September he will join a high-level meeting titled ‘Climate Action and the Just Transition’, organised at the initiative of the UN secretary-general.
The next day he will deliver the opening address at a high-level meeting on the existential crisis caused by sea level rise. He is expected to present there Bangladesh’s position as a climate-vulnerable country, with emphasis on climate finance, adaptation, technology transfer, loss and damage, and climate justice.
In addition, the prime minister will take part in a high-level meeting on tackling the global inequality crisis, jointly organised by Brazil, South Africa, Norway and Spain. Besides, he will also join a side event organised by Bangladesh on maternal and newborn health and midwifery.
There, Tarique Rahman will highlight the government’s various initiatives and future plans for protecting the health of mothers and children, and also stress the importance of skilled and professionally trained midwifery services.
On the sidelines of the session, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to have bilateral meetings with the crown prince of Kuwait and the prime ministers of Croatia, Bhutan, Thailand, Pakistan and Haiti.
Political and economic relations, trade and investment, development cooperation, the Rohingya crisis and other issues of mutual interest are thought likely to come up for discussion at these meetings.
In addition, he will hold meetings with the UN secretary-general, the president of the European Council, the president of the World Bank Group, the UN secretary-general’s special envoy on Myanmar and the UN high commissioners for refugees and human rights. He is also scheduled to meet the president of the International Peace Institute.
As part of the government’s economic diplomacy, the prime minister will also hold meetings with top representatives of Meta, Wall Street and other business entities. Bangladesh’s investment climate, opportunities in the manufacturing, infrastructure and technology sectors, human resource and skills development, and quality employment for young people are expected to be the main topics of discussion at these meetings.
The prime minister will begin his official activities at the UN on 22 September with the welcome breakfast hosted by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in honour of heads of state and government.
He will then join the opening segment of the session with world leaders and take part in the reception hosted by the US president in honour of heads of state and government and their spouses. He is scheduled to leave New York for Dhaka on the night of 25 September.
This visit carries added significance for Bangladesh as Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman will serve as president of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
With this, Tarique Rahman is going to address the UN General Assembly as the third member of his family. Earlier, his father, martyred President Ziaur Rahman, addressed the General Assembly in 1980, and his mother, former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, for the first time in 1993 and later at different times.
