Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set to address the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for the first time on September 24, outlining Bangladesh’s vision and priorities as he attends the 81st session of the global forum in New York this week.

In his address, the Prime Minister is expected to highlight Bangladesh’s renewed democratic journey, the rule of law and accountability, global peace and security, climate change, sustainable development, economic cooperation, youth and women’s empowerment, education and health, the Rohingya crisis, equitable and inclusive access to modern technology, and reform of the multilateral system.

Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam briefed the media at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday, saying Bangladesh’s participation in this year’s UNGA carries special significance in several respects.

Additional Foreign Secretary (public diplomacy and other priority matters) AKM Shahidul Karim and senior officials of the ministry were present.

Tarique Rahman will leave for New York on September 21 and remain there until September 25 for a packed programme of high-level meetings and diplomatic engagements on the sidelines of the UNGA.

He will deliver his address in Bangla.

The Prime Minister, who will be accompanied by a relatively small delegation, is expected to use the visit to outline Bangladesh’s vision for the future and articulate its priorities before world leaders.

“I believe this visit will create a significant opportunity to showcase the new journey of Bangladesh’s new government on the global stage, while also expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation,” Foreign Secretary Siam said.

Through the visit, he said, Bangladesh aims to convey to the world a message of a democratic, self-confident, responsible, peace-loving and promising nation.

Highlighting the significance of Bangladesh’s participation in the UNGA, Siam said this would be the current government’s first participation in the United Nations’ premier global forum.

“It offers an opportunity to present the new government’s political commitments and the vision for a future Bangladesh to the global community,” the Foreign Secretary said.

Secondly, he said, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would represent Bangladesh at the UN General Assembly for the first time.

“Furthermore, Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister will serve as the President of this very session. Thus, this is not only a rare and historic moment for us but also a matter of distinct prestige and pride,” Siam said.

Thirdly, he said, the Prime Minister would hold important meetings on the sidelines with heads of state and government from various countries, as well as senior officials of international organisations.

“These meetings will create new opportunities to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation,” he said.

The address will be particularly significant as it will mark Tarique Rahman’s first appearance at the UN General Assembly as Prime Minister and the current government’s first opportunity to present its political commitments and vision before the world’s premier multilateral forum, he said.

Alongside his General Assembly address, the Prime Minister will seek to draw renewed international attention to the protracted Rohingya crisis and mobilise stronger global cooperation towards its resolution.

He is scheduled to attend a Bangladesh-hosted side event on the Rohingya issue on September 23 where he will seek effective international cooperation for the earliest possible repatriation of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas to Myanmar.

Responding to a question, the Foreign Secretary described the Rohingya issue as an “ongoing problem” and said Bangladesh would once again use the gathering of world leaders to highlight its magnitude and the challenges it poses.

“We will once again present to the global community the magnitude of the Rohingya issue, the challenges it poses and the international cooperation, assistance and support Bangladesh requires,” Siam said.

Bangladesh has repeatedly maintained that the safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable return of the Rohingyas to Myanmar is the only viable and lasting solution to the crisis.

Climate change will also feature prominently in the Prime Minister’s UN engagements, as Bangladesh continues to call for stronger international action on the issue.

On September 23, he will attend a high-level meeting titled “Climate Action and the Just Transition”, convened at the initiative of the UN Secretary-General.

The following day, he will deliver the opening remarks at a high-level meeting on the existential threats posed by sea-level rise.

At the climate-related meetings, the Prime Minister is expected to articulate the concerns of climate-vulnerable countries, with a particular focus on climate finance, adaptation, technology transfer, loss and damage, and climate justice.

His UNGA address will also highlight Bangladesh’s priorities on global peace and security, sustainable development and economic cooperation, while advocating greater empowerment of youth and women and equitable access to modern technology.

The Prime Minister will also participate in a high-level meeting on tackling the global inequality crisis and a Bangladesh-hosted side event on maternal and newborn health and midwifery.

Siam said the United Nations programme would remain the priority during the Prime Minister’s visit, while his schedule of bilateral and other engagements remained “an evolving process”.

The 81st session of the General Assembly is being presided over by UNGA President Dr Khalilur Rahman. The session opened on September 8 under the theme “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers for All.”

The Prime Minister is scheduled to hold more than a dozen bilateral and high-level meetings on the sidelines of the UNGA during his brief visit to New York.

He is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with the Crown Prince of Kuwait and the prime ministers of Croatia, Bhutan, Thailand, Pakistan and Haiti.

He is also scheduled to meet the UN Secretary-General, the President of the European Council, the President of the World Bank Group, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar, and the UN high commissioners for refugees and human rights.

He is also expected to meet the President of the International Peace Institute.

As part of the government’s economic diplomacy, the Prime Minister will hold meetings with senior representatives of Meta, Wall Street and several other business organisations.

His father, late President Ziaur Rahman, was the first member of the family to address the forum, while his mother, late Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, addressed the General Assembly on five occasions between 1993 and 2005.