Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set to travel to New York to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. If everything goes according to plan, he is expected to arrive in New York on Monday, September 21. He is also scheduled to travel to San Francisco, where he is expected to attend an interaction with expatriate Bangladeshis, according to several sources.
Officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said preparations are underway for the prime minister’s nine-day visit to the United States. Work is also in progress to secure US visas for members of his delegation.
The Foreign Ministry has formally informed the US Embassy in Dhaka of the visit through a note verbale.
Officials said this will be Tarique Rahman’s first address to the UN General Assembly as prime minister. He is also expected to attend several side events on the sidelines of the General Assembly.
During his visit, the prime minister is also expected to meet with members of the Bangladeshi diaspora in San Francisco.
The timing of his UN address is particularly significant as Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman is scheduled to serve as president of the UN General Assembly. The foreign minister had earlier said he would assume the presidency on Tuesday, September 8.
Meanwhile, discussions had been underway about a possible bilateral visit by the prime minister to India, but the plan has not progressed further. His press secretary, Saleh Shibli, told Reuters on Friday that Bangladesh has not yet made a decision on the matter.
Tarique Rahman made his first overseas trips as prime minister in the third week of June, visiting Malaysia and China. His upcoming US visit would therefore be his third foreign trip since becoming prime minister.
## BNP Announces Two-Week Programme
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced a two-week programme in September surrounding Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to New York for the 81st UN General Assembly.
The programme has been organized by BNP and its affiliated organizations to welcome the prime minister on September 21 and hold various activities throughout his stay in New York.
The decisions were taken unanimously at a joint virtual meeting on August 24 involving former leaders of US BNP, leaders of the New York State BNP, the North and South New York City units, and central and local leaders of affiliated organizations.
The meeting discussed detailed plans for the prime minister’s visit and assigned various responsibilities among party leaders.
The meeting was coordinated by Anwar Hossain Khokon, BNP’s central international affairs secretary and coordinator for North America. Several BNP leaders and representatives of its affiliated organizations also addressed the meeting.
It was decided that BNP leaders and activists and members of its affiliated organizations would remain active throughout the prime minister’s stay in New York, organizing various programmes.
As part of the plan, BNP has decided to hold a large, peaceful rally in an orderly manner in front of the United Nations headquarters on September 24.
To ensure a large turnout, BNP and its affiliated organizations will conduct outreach campaigns across New York State and the North and South boroughs of New York City. Responsibilities for organizing activities in different areas have also been distributed among party leaders.
BNP and its affiliated organizations are preparing a series of programmes throughout the prime minister’s stay in New York, including welcome events, the peaceful rally and public outreach activities.
The party said a final programme for the visit will be announced on August 30 in the presence of BNP leaders and activists from across North America.
