PM took part in 30 programmes including 11 bilateral meetings on New York visit: Mahdi Amin
Photo: Collected
During his four-day visit to New York, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman took part in a total of 30 formal programmes, including bilateral meetings with the heads of state and government of 11 countries, alongside various programmes centring on the United Nations General Assembly. Mahdi Amin, adviser to the prime minister and spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, gave this information.
He said Bangladesh’s national interest, trade and investment, manpower export, energy security, regional cooperation, the Rohingya crisis, health, climate and international peace, among other issues, were given priority in these meetings and programmes.
Mahdi Amin said this while briefing journalists at the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations on Friday night, New York local time.
According to him, the prime minister’s four-day visit included eight programmes related to the UN General Assembly, four high-level events on the sidelines of the UN, 11 bilateral meetings and several more meetings with various international organisations and important personalities.
Mahdi Amin said, ‘In these meetings, the prime minister highlighted the issues concerning Bangladesh’s interests. Alongside this, he discussed people-to-people contact, increasing trade and investment and strengthening mutual cooperation with various countries.’
He said, ‘On Thursday morning, the prime minister met top Wall Street investors at a breakfast meeting organised by JPMorgan Chase. Investment opportunities in various sectors of Bangladesh and ways to increase them were discussed there.’
He further said, ‘The prime minister then held a meeting with the president of the International Peace Institute. Bangladesh’s return to the democratic path was welcomed there and Bangladesh’s role in establishing world peace was discussed.’
Mahdi Amin said the prime minister also held a meeting with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Human rights, the rule of law and the establishment of democracy in Bangladesh were discussed there.
Mahdi said, ‘On Thursday, the prime minister had important bilateral meetings with three Middle Eastern countries. He held meetings with the crown prince of Kuwait, the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia and the deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates. The issues concerning Bangladesh’s interests were highlighted in all three meetings.’
He said all three countries invited the prime minister to visit their respective countries. Protecting the interests of Bangladeshi workers, exporting more manpower, energy security, cooperation in the mineral sector and increasing investment in Bangladesh were discussed in detail at the meetings.
Mentioning that the government wants to further strengthen Bangladesh’s longstanding relations with the Middle Eastern countries, the prime minister said, ‘We want to take this relationship to a new height in manpower export, energy security, and trade and investment.’
Giving details of the prime minister’s four-day programme, he said the prime minister spoke at five of the eight programmes related to the General Assembly. Besides these, he held meetings with important personalities including the World Bank president, the UN secretary-general, the UN secretary-general’s special envoy on Myanmar, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
He also said the prime minister held meetings with the Gates Foundation, the International Peace Institute and Wall Street investors as well. He also joined various programmes with development partners and the local community.
Mahdi said two high-level events, on the Rohingya crisis and on maternal and newborn health and midwifery, were hosted by Bangladesh. In addition, the prime minister also spoke at high-level events organised on climate change and just transition and on sea-level rise.
He said the prime minister’s wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, also took part in eight high-level programmes during the visit, speaking at four of them.
According to Mahdi Amin, notable among these were the UN General Assembly Platform of Women Leaders, the First Spouses Dialogue and the high-level event on maternal and child health and midwifery. He said representatives of various countries praised Dr Zubaida’s speeches at these programmes.
Mahdi Amin further said the prime minister and his entourage represented Bangladesh at about 80 programmes in four days.
The prime minister’s adviser said the best possible use of time was made on this visit with a small delegation and Bangladesh’s interest was given the highest importance in every programme.
Mahdi said, ‘After a long time, the prime minister is representing Bangladesh on the world stage as the head of a government elected by the people’s vote. His address to the UN General Assembly brought up Bangladesh’s plans and priorities as well as world peace, humanity, democracy, human rights and international cooperation.’
He said, ‘We believe this continuity of democratic government will be maintained and, in the days ahead, Bangladesh will move forward on the world stage as a more prosperous and self-reliant country under the prime minister’s leadership.’
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir, Shama Obaed, the prime minister’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibly, Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon, Bangladesh’s Press Minister in Washington Golam Mortoza, Bangladesh’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN AKM Wahiduzzaman and the prime minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Zahidul Islam Roni, along with members of the prime minister’s press wing, were present at the press conference.
