
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman left New York for Dhaka on Friday night after a five-day visit to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
During the visit, he delivered his first address to the General Assembly and held a series of bilateral and high-level meetings on Bangladesh’s national interests and global priorities.
An Emirates flight carrying the prime minister, his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and members of his entourage departed John F Kennedy International Airport for Dubai late on Friday, September 25, the prime minister’s deputy press secretary, Hasan Shiplu, said.
The flight is scheduled to reach Dubai at 8pm on Saturday, September 26, with the onward flight to Dhaka departing at 2am on Sunday, September 27, both local times. Rahman is expected to arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 8:40am Bangladesh time on Sunday.
At JFK Airport, Rahman and his wife were seen off by Bangladesh’s permanent representative to the UN, Irene Khan, Bangladesh’s ambassador to the United States, Tareq Md Ariful Islam, and senior officials from the UN mission and embassy.
A number of expatriate BNP leaders and activists also gathered outside the airport terminal to see the prime minister off.
Rahman arrived in New York on September 21 to attend the UNGA. His delegation included Zubaida Rahman, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, and State Ministers for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir and Shama Obaed Islam.
During his visit, the prime minister addressed the UN General Assembly’s general debate for the first time, presenting Bangladesh’s positions on global peace and security, climate change, sustainable development, humanitarian crises, economic cooperation and the Rohingya crisis.
In his September 24 address, Rahman reaffirmed Bangladesh’s support for UN efforts to promote world peace and serve humanity, and called for conflicts to be resolved through dialogue, diplomacy and cooperation.
FP/A