Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's address to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) marks a milestone in Bangladesh's future journey and reflects his "Bangladesh First" philosophy, international and political analysts said today.

Speakers said the parts of the speech covering the Rohingya issue and the climate crisis provided a vision for the future, as well as a clear roadmap for post-fascist Bangladesh.

They made the remarks at a Citizens’ Forum, Bangladesh programme held on Saturday at the International Mother Language Institute.

Presiding over the event, University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Mamun Ahmed said the speech addressed everything Bangladesh needs to say on the world stage at this moment. "The prime minister has aptly presented his entire political philosophy and his vision for Bangladesh to the world."

Chief guest and former state minister for foreign affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury said the world now knows, thanks to the speech, that Bangladesh is no longer under the umbrella of any particular country but has begun a fresh journey with its own identity.

He urged the government to work on the Bangladesh-China-Myanmar corridor alongside the Rohingya issue, and called for Chinese assistance in resolving the Teesta water crisis.

Prof Emeritus Yusuf Haider of Dhaka University said the way the government has run the country over the past six months shows the nation is on the right track.

He stressed maintaining internal law and order and tackling the energy crisis.

He also underscored the need to harness resources in the Bay of Bengal to overcome the energy crisis and benefit the country.

Kamrul Ahsan, former vice-chancellor of Jahangirnagar University, said the message Tarique Rahman delivered at the UN, that the Rohingyas be repatriated to Myanmar with citizenship, is the most effective way to resolve the crisis.

Speakers also described as bold the prime minister's decision to make Malaysia and China his first visits, and to hold a separate meeting with Iran at the UN.