Bangladesh’s Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is expected to visit New York in September to attend the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). It will be his first appearance and first address to the General Assembly as prime minister.
The planned visit has generated considerable enthusiasm among leaders and supporters of the BNP’s U.S. chapter and its affiliated organizations. At the same time, the U.S. Awami League is preparing a series of protest events during his stay.
According to the United Nations schedule, the 81st session of the General Assembly will open on September 8 at UN Headquarters in New York. The High-Level General Debate, attended by heads of state and government, will take place from September 22 to September 26, with the final meeting scheduled for September 28.
Under the government’s tentative itinerary, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to arrive in New York on September 21 and deliver Bangladesh’s national statement before the General Assembly on September 24. He is expected to depart New York on September 25 or 26 after a four- to five-day visit, although the schedule remains subject to change.
According to officials familiar with the preparations, one of the central themes of the prime minister’s address will be the recovery of Bangladeshi assets and funds allegedly laundered abroad. He is expected to call on world leaders to strengthen international legal and institutional cooperation in identifying, freezing, recovering, and repatriating stolen assets.
The Tarique Rahman administration has already declared asset recovery a key priority in its campaign against corruption and financial crime. The government has established a dedicated Stolen Asset Recovery Division under the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) and has launched initiatives to expand information-sharing and legal cooperation with foreign governments.
This year’s General Assembly carries additional significance for Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Khalilur Rahman, has been elected President of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. He defeated Cyprus’s candidate, Andreas Kakouris, in a secret ballot held on June 2 and will preside over the General Assembly during its 2026–2027 session.
During his visit, Prime Minister Rahman is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with several world leaders on the sidelines of the General Assembly. He may also attend a diplomatic reception hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump for heads of state and government. In addition, the prime minister is expected to participate in a community event with members of the Bangladeshi diaspora in New York.
The visit has sparked excitement among BNP leaders and supporters across New York and other U.S. states. Party officials are reportedly discussing plans to welcome the prime minister, organize a peaceful gathering outside UN Headquarters, and hold community engagement events with Bangladeshi expatriates.
The trip will mark Tarique Rahman’s first visit to New York since returning to Bangladesh after nearly 17 years in the United Kingdom, where he lived before returning home, winning the national election, and forming the government. As a result, the visit is viewed as politically and organizationally significant by BNP supporters in the United States.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Awami League has begun promoting protest plans against the prime minister’s visit. A leaflet circulating on social media announces a series of demonstrations beginning on September 19.
According to the leaflet, the group plans to hold a protest at John F. Kennedy International Airport, organize demonstrations near the prime minister’s hotel throughout his stay, and stage a rally outside United Nations Headquarters on September 24. The protesters are expected to demand the lifting of restrictions on the Awami League’s political activities in Bangladesh, the release of political leaders and activists, and an end to arrests and legal cases against party members.
However, while the leaflet schedules an airport protest for September 19, the government’s tentative itinerary indicates that the prime minister is expected to arrive on September 21. The protest schedule may therefore be revised once the official travel itinerary is finalized.
With Bangladesh presiding over the UN General Assembly, the prime minister’s first address to the world body, and competing political demonstrations planned by rival Bangladeshi groups, September is expected to be an especially busy and politically charged month for the Bangladeshi community in New York.
