NEW YORK: State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief and Member of Parliament for Mymensingh-3, M. Iqbal Hossain, met with the editor and journalists of Prothom Alo North America in New York on Tuesday, September 29.
The meeting took place in the lobby of a New York hotel as the state minister was in the city in connection with the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
During the informal exchange, Hossain answered questions from journalists and discussed a range of issues, including the current situation in Bangladesh, his responsibilities as state minister, and the Rohingya crisis.
The discussion focused particularly on the current situation of the Rohingya refugees, humanitarian assistance, prospects for repatriation, and the need for continued international cooperation to address the protracted crisis.
Hossain said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has undertaken multifaceted initiatives and measures to address the Rohingya crisis. Under the prime minister’s directives, he said, he has been working directly to address the Rohingya issue and to help improve the situation of the forcibly displaced population.
The state minister sought cooperation from all concerned quarters in efforts to find a sustainable solution to the crisis.
Hossain also recently participated as the chief guest in a discussion on the Rohingya crisis organized by Human Concern International in New York. The discussion covered the current situation of the Rohingya, declining international assistance, prospects for repatriation, and the future of the younger generation growing up in refugee camps.
Hossain was elected from the Mymensingh-3 constituency as a Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) candidate in the 13th parliamentary election held in 2026. He assumed responsibility as State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief on February 17, 2026.
During the meeting with Prothom Alo North America, Editor Ibrahim Chowdhury, Executive Editor Monzurul Huq, and journalists Rokya Dipa, Cayan Siddique and Rashida Akhter were present.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly, which brought Bangladesh’s representatives and officials to New York for discussions on a range of national, regional and international issues, including the Rohingya crisis.
