PM arrives in Antalya for COP31 world leaders’ summit

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman arrived in Antalya on Tuesday on a three-day official visit to Türkiye to attend the COP31 World Leaders’ Summit, where he is scheduled to address a plenary session and hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines.
A Turkish Airlines flight carrying the prime minister, his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and other members of the entourage landed at Antalya Airport at 4:03pm local time, said PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu.
Tarique Rahman was received at the airport by Türkiye’s Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Dr Serdar Çam, Shiplu said, adding that two children presented flowers to the prime minister and his wife.
A smartly turned-out contingent of airport personnel also accorded the prime minister a guard of honour, the deputy press secretary said.
The prime minister and his entourage left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 7:30am and landed at Istanbul Airport at 12:40pm local time, where he was accorded a VVIP reception.
He was escorted with full honours to the state guest house inside the airport, where he was received by the airport’s administrative head and Governor Dr M Ilker Haktankaçmaz.
After a stopover of nearly two hours, the prime minister left Istanbul for Antalya at 2:55pm on another Turkish Airlines flight.
He was scheduled to hold his first bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at 6:30pm local time on Tuesday at the Maxx Royal Hotel, according to his tour schedule and foreign ministry sources.
The two leaders were expected to discuss ways to boost bilateral trade and investment and expand cooperation in key sectors.
The World Leaders’ Summit will be held today and tomorrow. The prime minister is scheduled to deliver Bangladesh’s statement at the plenary session tomorrow, outlining the country’s position on climate justice, the historical responsibility of developed countries, climate finance, adaptation, loss and damage, and climate-resilient sustainable development.
Bilateral meetings are also being arranged with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the British Foreign Secretary. A meeting with the UNDP Administrator is also being explored, newly appointed Foreign Secretary Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury told reporters in Dhaka on Monday.
He said the talks were expected to cover bilateral relations, trade and investment, and climate cooperation, expressing hope that they would open new opportunities to advance Bangladesh’s economic and geopolitical interests.
Salahuddin noted that Bangladesh contributes only 0.05% of global greenhouse gas emissions but remains among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. Securing climate justice, adaptation finance, action on loss and damage, and the fulfilment of developed countries’ climate finance commitments are therefore its foremost priorities, he said.
On compensation for climate-related loss and damage, he said Bangladesh presents estimates of its losses at international forums to raise awareness and mobilise cooperation. Although estimates vary, doing so helps advance the country’s interests, he added.
Bangladesh will also showcase its achievements in climate resilience and share its experience of tackling climate impacts across South Asia and the wider Asian region. It has set up a jute pavilion in the conference’s Green Zone to promote the diverse uses and environmental benefits of jute, as well as its potential as an alternative to plastic. A joint declaration between Bangladesh and Türkiye on promoting jute and jute products is also envisaged.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will organise two side events in the Blue Zone on 12 and 13 November. One will focus on women’s particular vulnerability to climate change in Bangladesh, while the other will highlight the challenges of promoting biodegradable, zero-waste jute products as alternatives to synthetic polymers.
Salahuddin said Bangladesh’s positions had been formulated through inter-ministerial discussions and consultations with stakeholders, coordinated by the foreign ministry in collaboration with the environment ministry and other agencies. He expressed hope that the Prime Minister’s participation would strengthen Bangladesh’s standing in international climate diplomacy.
A 21-member delegation is accompanying the prime minister. Among its members are Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo, State Ministers for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir and Shama Obaed Islam, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Forest, Environment and Climate Change Dr Md Saimum Parvez, PMO Principal Coordinator for SDG Affairs Professor Dr S M Abdul-Awal, Press Secretary AAM Saleh Shibli and Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu.
COP, or the Conference of the Parties, is the annual UN climate summit where countries discuss collective action on climate change. Türkiye is hosting this year’s conference, while Australia is leading the formal negotiations.
The prime minister is scheduled to return home on Friday.