Bangladesh has once again demonstrated its “stronger and diversified” presence in multilateral forum through in-person participation during the 76th UN General Assembly (UNGA), officials said.

“Bangladesh’s participation at the UNGA led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has further elevated the country’s stronger and vibrant presence in multilateral forum,” said a senior official.

UN General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid closed the UN High-Level session, crediting “sound mitigation measures” and high vaccination rates for its success.

Earlier, the UNGA President invited Bangladesh's Permanent Representative (PR) to the United Nations Ambassador Rabab Fatima to chair part of the general debate of the UN General Assembly’s 76th session.

“It’s a big honor for Bangladesh,” a senior official told UNB, adding that the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly brought a rare occasion for Bangladesh, an instance of the growing presence of women in positions of leadership.

When Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's turn came to deliver her speech for the 17th time at the UNGA in Bangla, it was Ambassador Rabab Fatima who was chairing the session. Hence the PM was introduced and invited on to the podium by Rabab Fatima.

Earlier, Bangladesh, a flag bearer of multilateralism, was elected as a vice president of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) from the Asia-Pacific Region for a one-year term starting September this year.

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At the UNGA, the Prime Minister made a clarion call for vaccine equality, climate justice, Rohingya crisis resolution, sustainable and smooth graduation, women’s equality.

“It was an honour and privilege to chair the session,” said Rabab Fatima.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina unveiled a bench and planted a tree named “honey locust” at UN garden dedicated to the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

“This is something rare,” said another official.

Locust trees are a type of fast-growing flowering plant, belonging to the family of plants known as Fabaceae. Almost all Locust trees can survive for more than a hundred years and their wood is deemed harder than the strongest deciduous trees.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister was awarded with the ‘SDG Progress Award’ by the UN-sponsored Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) for Bangladesh’s steady progress in achieving the SDGs.

Director of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network Jeffrey Sachs highly appreciated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her leadership in securing “tremendous” gains on different development and human indicators set out under SDGs.

The Prime Minister is scheduled return home on Friday night.