Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set to address the United Nations General Assembly for the first time as the third member of the Zia family, marking a new chapter in a relationship spanning over four decades with the UN General Assembly.

He will deliver his speech at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, USA, on Thursday (September 24).

Tarique Rahman’s father, late President Ziaur Rahman, first addressed the UN General Assembly on August 26, 1980.

Following him, his mother, late former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, delivered her maiden speech at the General Assembly on October 1, 1993.

During the 11th special session of the UN General Assembly, late President Ziaur Rahman emphasized the widening gap between rich and poor nations, poverty and hunger, economic development, and the necessity for broader international cooperation.

He questioned why poverty and hunger persisted despite international commitments to development and called for a world built on peace, human dignity, justice, and mutual responsibility among nations.

Exactly 13 years after that address, on October 1, 1993, late former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia spoke at the 48th session of the UN General Assembly.

She subsequently addressed various UN General Assembly proceedings on several other occasions, including a commemorative meeting for the UN's 50th anniversary in 1995, the 27th special session on children in 2002, and two separate sessions during the 60th General Assembly in 2005.

According to UN records, Khaleda Zia spoke during General Assembly proceedings a total of five times between 1993 and 2005.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam stated that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will depart Dhaka for New York on September 21 to attend the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, with his address scheduled for September 24.

She further noted that the issue of climate change will receive special emphasis in the Prime Minister's speech, through which Bangladesh will present its stance and priorities to the international community.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir stated that the Prime Minister will present Bangladesh's new vision and future plans to world leaders, highlighting topics such as the nation's democratic transition, future development priorities, global peace, and sustainable solutions to international crises.

He added that poverty alleviation, economic potential, addressing climate change, and climate financing will also feature prominently in the Prime Minister's address, alongside the Rohingya crisis, which will be treated as a major priority.

Additionally, this year's 81st session holds extra significance for Bangladesh because Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman is currently serving as the President of the UN General Assembly.

According to the initial UN schedule, the general debate of the 81st session of the General Assembly will run from September 22 to September 26, and on September 28.

Beginning with the address by late President Ziaur Rahman in 1980 and sustained through the participation of Khaleda Zia between 1993 and 2005, a new horizon in this legacy will unfold in 2026 with Tarique Rahman's inaugural speech.