Prime Minister to Visit US to Attend UN General Assembly

After visits to Malaysia and China, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set to travel to the United States to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

If everything goes according to plan, he may leave for New York on September 21, followed by a visit to San Francisco.

Officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said preparations are underway for the Prime Minister’s nine-day visit, including arrangements for US visas for members of his delegation.

The Foreign Ministry has formally notified the US Embassy in Dhaka of the proposed visit through a note verbale.

Officials said this will be the Prime Minister’s first address to the UN General Assembly as head of government. He is also expected to attend various side events on the sidelines of the General Assembly.

In San Francisco, Tarique Rahman is expected to participate in an interaction with members of the Bangladeshi diaspora.

The Prime Minister’s UN visit will take place at a notable time, as Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman is scheduled to serve as President of the UN General Assembly. He had earlier said that he would assume the position on September 8.

Meanwhile, discussions had been underway over a possible bilateral visit by the Prime Minister to India, but the plan has not progressed further. His Press Secretary Saleh Shibli told Reuters on Friday that Bangladesh has not yet made a decision regarding the visit.