United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister’s Adviser and his Office spokesperson Mahdi Amin on Sunday said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s four-day visit to the US to attend the UN General Assembly was highly successful and fruitful. “The Prime Minister’s visit was highly successful and fruitful. Through this visit, he has taken Bangladesh to a higher position on the global stage,” he said. Mahdi Amin made the remarks while briefing reporters at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after returning to Bangladesh with the Prime Minister after his participation in the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. He said the Prime Minister firmly focused on Bangladesh’s interests, sovereignty, independence and potential in every respect during his visit to the UN General Assembly. Mahdi Amin said that after a long time, a prime minister elected by the people’s votes represented Bangladesh on the global stage. The heads of government and state of every country received him with great warmth and cordiality, he said. Tarique Rahman completed the successful four-day visit with a very short schedule and the fewest possible entourage, Mahdi said. Within the brief period, he participated in a total of 30 programmes including several important bilateral and multilateral meetings. He also attended eight major UN events and delivered important speeches at seven of them, including the Prime Minister’s “historic” address to the UN, he said. Highlighting several high-level events in the Prime Minister’s busy schedule, Mahdi Amin said two high-level events on the Rohingya crisis and universal health care were organised by Bangladesh.  In addition, the Prime Minister participated in two other global high-level events related to the climate change and healthcare, he said. Describing the Prime Minister’s historic UN speech, Mahdi Amin said Tarique Rahman outlined specific policies and plans for every section and profession of society including education, healthcare, agriculture, employment, technology and artificial intelligence, as well as youths and women. He said the plans would be implemented gradually. "The Prime Minister, however, did not speak only about Bangladesh’s development but also strongly called for world peace," Mahdi Amin said. Recalling Bangladesh’s firm position on the Palestine issue, the PMO spokesperson said Bangladesh staged a walkout in when the Israeli prime minister rose to speak immediately after Tarique Rahman’s address at the UN. “This carries a clear message from Bangladesh in favour of world peace,” he said. He said the government’s initiatives to maintain internal and international peace, protect human rights, ensure inclusive development, establish the rule of law and change the fortunes of the people at large, which, he said, have received widespread appreciation at home and abroad, would continue in the coming days. Responding to a question from journalists over Boeing deal, he said the agreement to purchase aircraft from Boeing was signed after giving the highest priority to Bangladesh’s interests and was not a decision imposed on the country. He said the decision to purchase aircraft from Boeing was taken earlier based on the bilateral interests of Bangladesh and the United States. “The Prime Minister was not present at the signing of the agreement. However, the agreement was signed through representatives of the two countries, giving the highest priority to the interests of Bangladesh,” Mahdi said. He also said an important Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Strategic Civil Nuclear Cooperation was signed between the governments of the two countries during the visit. The MoU was also signed separately at a sideline meeting without the Prime Minister’s presence, he said. The PMO spokesperson said the Prime Minister’s visit was not limited to programmes involving the US or the UN. During the visit, the Prime Minister held bilateral meetings and discussions with the top leadership of a total of 11 countries, he said. In each of these discussions, Bangladesh’s sovereignty, national interests and the welfare of its people were given priority,” Mahdi added. Positive assurances on energy security, Rohingya issue Responding to another question, Mahdi said energy security was a key issue in discussions with the leaders of Middle Eastern countries. Bilateral discussions were held on how the current crisis can be resolved through coordinated efforts and effective negotiations, he said. He also said fruitful discussions were held with ASEAN member states and international organisations working on human rights and displaced people to resolve the Rohingya crisis. “Every country and organisation has pledged to stand by Bangladesh in resolving the crisis,” Mahdi said. He said the international community highly appreciated Bangladesh’s generosity and humanitarianism in providing shelter to the Rohingyas under the leadership of the Prime Minister. The PMO spokesperson said world leaders and the international community expressed clear commitments to work together and stand by Bangladesh on all issues concerning the country’s interests during every bilateral and multilateral meeting held during the visit. Nine arrested over Mirpur health centre attack Responding to a question about the recent attack on a healthcare centre in Mirpur, Mahdi said the government is taking action swiftly whenever isolated or sporadic incidents occurred. “We were in the UN during the incident. As far as I know, nine people were arrested very quickly following the attack on a healthcare centre in Mirpur,” he said. He said the government’s position was clear in this regard. “If anyone uses the name of any government official or the name or identity of anyone associated with the party, the law will take its own course with the utmost strictness, and arrests will be made as quickly as possible following an investigation,” Mahdi said. “We are already seeing that progress, and InshaAllah, we believe that the law enforcement agencies and those responsible at the Home Ministry will take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that the law is enforced more swiftly,” he added. Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibli, Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon and Assistant Press Secretary KM Nazmul Haque were also present.