‘PM’s UNGA visit boosts country’s global standing’

State Minister for Foreign Affairs-1 Humaiun Kobir said on Monday that Prime Minister Tareque Rahman’s participation in the United Nations General Assembly has strengthened Bangladesh’s confidence and enhanced its honour and standing on the global stage.

“After a long period, a prime minister elected through the overwhelming mandate of the people represented Bangladesh on the global stage. Through this visit, the country’s confidence, honour and dignity have been elevated to a new height,” the state minister said at a press conference held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to brief reporters on the prime minister’s maiden participation in the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Kobir said Bangladesh’s participation in this year’s General Assembly had been successful overall.

He said the visit had also created important opportunities to expand bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

“Participants in various meetings and bilateral engagements spontaneously expressed their unequivocal support for Bangladesh’s new democratic journey,” the state minister added.

Humaiun Kobir said the prime minister took part in 30 international engagements during his four-day visit to New York, including a historic address to the UN General Assembly, speeches at seven high-level meetings, bilateral talks with 11 countries and meetings with senior officials of 10 international organisations, including the United Nations.

During the UNGA session, the prime minister held bilateral meetings with the presidents of Türkiye and Iran, the vice-president of the Maldives, and the prime ministers of Bhutan, Pakistan, Thailand, Croatia and Haiti. He also met the Crown Prince of Kuwait.

The state minister said the deputy prime ministers and foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates paid courtesy calls on the prime minister.

The prime minister also held courtesy meetings with the UN secretary-general, the president of the World Bank Group, the UN high commissioner for refugees, the UN high commissioner for human rights, the UN secretary-general’s special envoy for Myanmar, the founder of the International Peace Institute, the CEO of the Gates Foundation, the CEO of Boeing Global and Wall Street investors.

Speaking about the purchase of Boeing aircraft, Kobir said the agreement was signed at a ceremony held in an open setting and attended by four ministers at the direction of President Trump and the White House.

“We purchased the Boeing aircraft according to our requirements. Historically, Bangladesh has operated Boeing’s wide-body aircraft, but we also need a mixed fleet,” he said.