PM heads home from Istanbul after attending COP31

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman left Istanbul for Dhaka on Thursday evening, resuming his journey home from Türkiye’s Antalya after attending the UN Climate Change Conference (COP31).

A Turkish Airlines flight carrying the prime minister, his wife Zubaida Rahman and other members of his delegation departed Istanbul International Airport around 8pm local time, said PM's Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu.

The flight is scheduled to arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 5:50am on Friday.

Earlier, Tarique departed Antalya for Istanbul at 4:15pm local time and reached Istanbul at 6:10pm.

Ambassador Subutay Yuksel, a high-ranking official at Türkiye's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, saw him off at Antalya Airport.

The prime minister arrived in Antalya on 10 November on a three-day visit to attend COP31 and the Antalya Leaders' Summit.

On Thursday, he addressed the High-Level Segment of COP31, outlining five urgent actions to address the needs of climate-vulnerable countries.

On the sidelines of the conference, the prime minister held bilateral meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

During the meetings, they discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties, expand trade and investment, and enhance cooperation in addressing the impacts of climate change.

Tarique also held courtesy meetings and exchanged greetings with several other world leaders and heads of international organisations during the conference.

The prime minister and his wife attended a dinner hosted by Turkish President Erdoğan and First Lady Emine Erdoğan in honour of world leaders attending COP31.

Apart from participating in various programmes of the conference, he visited the Bangladesh Pavilion and an exhibition of environment-friendly jute products set up in the Green Zone.