PM heads to COP31 to present Bangladesh’s stance on climate justice, to speak on 12 November

ছবিঃ সংগৃহীত

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will leave Dhaka for Türkiye tomorrow to take part in COP31, the United Nations summit on climate change.

During this official visit from 10 to 12 November he will lead the Bangladesh delegation and address the summit’s plenary session. Alongside the summit, he is also scheduled to take part in bilateral meetings with heads of state and government of various countries.

The summit will be held in Antalya, Türkiye, on 11 and 12 November. The prime minister will speak on behalf of Bangladesh at the plenary session on 12 November.

Newly appointed Foreign Secretary Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury outlined various aspects of the preparations and programme for the visit at a press conference at the foreign ministry today (Monday).

The prime minister will be accompanied by his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman, the minister for environment, forest and climate change, two state ministers of the foreign ministry, the prime minister’s special assistant on environment, forest and climate change, relevant government officials, journalists and other dignitaries.

The foreign secretary said work is under way to finalise the prime minister’s other engagements outside the summit. Initiatives have also been taken to arrange bilateral meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the UK foreign secretary.

These meetings may discuss strengthening bilateral relations, expanding trade and investment, cooperation in tackling climate change and various issues of mutual interest. Work is also under way on the possibility of a meeting with the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury said, ‘We hope these engagements will create new opportunities to advance Bangladesh’s economic and geopolitical interests.’

Asked whether a courtesy meeting between the prime minister and the Turkish president was possible, he said such a meeting could take place, at which overall cooperation between the two countries could be discussed. He believes both sides may also talk about the broader relationship. But he said a specific project or agreement was unlikely to be finalised at a courtesy meeting on the sidelines of a multilateral summit.

A question was also raised about the interest of Turkish company ‘Çelebi’ in providing ground handling services as a partner of Biman Bangladesh Airlines under the Japanese consortium at the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The foreign secretary replied that a detailed discussion of that specific proposal at such meetings was unlikely.

On compensation for climate-induced loss and damage, Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury said Bangladesh presents its own estimates of loss and damage at international forums to raise awareness and make it easier to obtain international cooperation. In his words, there are various estimates of the losses Bangladesh has suffered from climate change, and these are presented in global discussions. This raises awareness about Bangladesh’s situation, which works in the country’s favour.

The foreign secretary said that at the summit’s plenary session the prime minister will set out Bangladesh’s position and expectations on climate justice, the historical responsibility of developed countries, climate finance, adaptation, tackling loss and damage, and climate-resilient sustainable development.

According to him, Bangladesh’s contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions is only 0.05 per cent, yet the country is one of the most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. In this context, he described ensuring climate justice as one of Bangladesh’s main priorities.

Other priorities include adaptation finance, tackling loss and damage and ensuring effective implementation of the climate finance pledges made by developed countries.

At the summit Bangladesh will highlight its successes in achieving climate resilience and share its experience of tackling the impacts of climate change in South Asia and the wider Asian region.

Bangladesh has also taken the initiative to set up a ‘Jute Pavilion’ in the summit’s ‘Green Zone’. It will showcase the diverse uses of jute, its eco-friendly qualities and its potential as an alternative to plastic. The foreign secretary said there are also plans to sign a joint declaration between Bangladesh and Türkiye on the use and promotion of jute and jute products during the summit.

The foreign ministry will organise two side events in the ‘Blue Zone’ on 12 and 13 November. One will highlight Bangladesh’s gender-based vulnerabilities due to climate change. The other will discuss the potential for expanding the use of eco-friendly, biodegradable jute products as an alternative to synthetic polymer-based products, and the various obstacles in the sector.

Through these, Bangladesh wants to draw the international community’s attention to the particular vulnerability of women to climate change, while highlighting the importance of jute products in protecting the environment.

Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury said Türkiye is presiding over this year’s summit, while Australia holds the co-chair role in the formal climate negotiation process. He said coordination has been carried out among the relevant ministries and agencies, including the foreign ministry and the environment, forest and climate change ministry, in preparing Bangladesh’s participation in the summit. Bangladesh’s position and priorities have been set on the basis of inter-ministerial discussions and consultations with various stakeholders.

He hopes that this participation under the prime minister’s leadership will further strengthen Bangladesh’s position in international climate diplomacy, and will also create an opportunity to present the country’s efforts, experience and successes in achieving climate resilience on the international stage.

Senior ministry officials, including Additional Foreign Secretary (Public Diplomacy and Other Priorities) AKM Shahidul Karim, were present at the briefing.

Background

According to a 2 January 2026 report by Malaysian news agency Bernama, the relevant Turkish ministry said COP31 will run in Antalya from 9 to 20 November.

According to a Climate Home News report on 14 April, the world leaders’ summit in Antalya will be held on 11 and 12 November; Australia’s Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen holds the role of President of Negotiations.

Sources

Original report: BSS

Background sources: Bernama, 2 January 2026; Climate Home News (Pulse), 14 April 2026