Prime Minister Tarique Rahman completed a total of 30 official engagements, including bilateral discussions with 11 nations, during his four-day visit to New York for the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), stated Prime Minister’s Adviser and PMO spokesperson Mahdi Amin on Saturday (Bangladesh Time).

Speaking at a press conference held at the Bangladesh Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York , Mahdi Amin noted that Bangladesh’s national interests, trade and investment, manpower exports, energy security, regional cooperation, the Rohingya crisis, health, climate change and international peace were primary focus areas throughout the meetings and forums.

He detailed that the prime minister participated in eight UNGA-related sessions, four high-level events on the sidelines of the assembly, 11 bilateral meetings, and several interactions with international organizations and key personalities during the four-day tour.

"During these meetings, the prime minister highlighted issues of Bangladesh’s national interests and discussed ways to increase people-to-people contacts, trade and investment and strengthen mutual cooperation with different countries," Mahdi stated.

He mentioned that on Friday morning, the prime minister attended a breakfast session with prominent Wall Street investors hosted by JP Morgan Chase, where investment prospects across various sectors in Bangladesh and methods to boost investment were explored.

Subsequently, the prime minister met with the president of the International Peace Institute, who welcomed Bangladesh’s return to democratic governance and discussed the nation's contributions toward fostering global peace, Mahdi relayed.

Touching upon the prime minister’s conference with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, Mahdi noted that the talks centered on human rights, the rule of law, and the establishment of democracy in Bangladesh.

"On Friday, the prime minister held important bilateral meetings with three Middle Eastern countries, meeting the Crown Prince of Kuwait, the Saudi foreign minister and the deputy prime minister and foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates. Bangladesh’s national interests featured prominently in all three meetings," he said.

Mahdi noted that all three nations extended invitations to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to visit their respective countries, adding that conversations addressed safeguarding the interests of Bangladeshi expatriate workers, expanding manpower exports, energy security, mineral sector cooperation, and increasing investments in Bangladesh.

He remarked that the prime minister highlighted the government’s commitment to further consolidating Bangladesh’s long-standing connections with Middle Eastern partners and elevating bilateral ties to a higher plane, specifically regarding manpower recruitment, energy security, trade, and investment.

Expanding on the details of the four-day itinerary, Mahdi stated that the premier delivered speeches at five of the eight UNGA-related sessions.

In addition, he held meetings with World Bank President Ajay Banga, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar Julie Bishop, and UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih, among others.

He also conducted discussions with the Gates Foundation, the International Peace Institute, and Wall Street investors, while joining several events with development partners and local diaspora communities, Mahdi said.

He highlighted that Bangladesh organized two high-level events focusing on the Rohingya crisis and maternal, newborn health, and midwifery.

The prime minister also addressed high-level sessions on climate change, just transition, and sea-level rise. Furthermore, Prime Minister’s wife Dr Zubaida Rahman participated in eight high-level engagements during the trip, delivering addresses at four of them, Mahdi reported.

Her engagements included the UN General Assembly’s Platform of Women Leaders, the First Spouses’ Dialogue, and a high-level conference on maternal and child health and midwifery, Mahdi added, noting, "Representatives from different countries praised her remarks at these events."

Mahdi stated that the prime minister and members of his entourage collectively represented Bangladesh across approximately 80 different engagements over the four-day visit.

"Despite the small delegation, the prime minister’s visit made the best possible use of the time available, with Bangladesh’s interests given priority at every engagement," he emphasized. Mahdi expressed that the prime minister was representing Bangladesh on the international stage after a long hiatus as the leader of a government elected by the citizens.

"In his address to the UN General Assembly, the premier highlighted Bangladesh’s plans and priorities as well as issues of global peace, humanity, democracy, human rights and international cooperation," he observed.

Mahdi concluded, "We believe that the continuity of the democratic government will be maintained and, under the leadership of the prime minister, Bangladesh will move forward on the global stage as a more prosperous and self-reliant country in the days ahead."

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir, Shama Obaed Islam, PM’s Press Secretary AAM Saleh Shibly, Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman, Press Minister at the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC Golam Mortuza, Bangladesh’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN AKM Wahiduzzaman, Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Jahidul Islam Rony, and members of the PM’s press wing were also in attendance at the briefing.