Tarique Rahman Heads to New York for UN General Assembly 2026, Bilateral Meetings Planned
DHAKA, Sept 17 — Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will travel to New York on Monday to attend the 81st session of the UN General Assembly 2026, with his visit shortened to four days, Foreign Ministry officials said.
Rahman is due to address the UN General Assembly 2026 on Sept. 24 and is expected to leave New York for Dhaka on the night of Sept. 25, the officials said.
The government had initially planned a Sept. 21-29 visit to the United States, including a trip to San Francisco, but the itinerary was later shortened. The size of the prime minister’s delegation has also been reduced, officials said.
Bilateral meetings planned
Rahman is expected to hold bilateral meetings with several foreign leaders on the sidelines of the General Assembly, according to diplomatic sources.
Potential meetings include talks with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic.
A meeting is also being planned with Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, the sources said.
Rahman is expected to meet U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih, European Council President Antonio Costa, and World Bank President Ajay Banga.
He is also scheduled to meet Boeing Global President Brendan Nelson.
Development, climate and Rohingya crisis
During his stay in New York, Rahman will attend several high-level U.N. meetings covering development, pandemic preparedness, rising sea levels, and nuclear disarmament, officials said.
Bangladesh will host discussions on several issues on the sidelines of the General Assembly, including the Rohingya crisis.
Bangladesh hosts more than 1 million Rohingya refugees, most of whom fled neighboring Myanmar following a military crackdown in 2017. Dhaka has repeatedly called for international support to facilitate their safe and sustainable return.
Rahman will also attend a dinner hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump during his visit, according to government sources.
The prime minister’s visit is expected to focus on Bangladesh’s international engagements and bilateral discussions with foreign governments and international organizations during the annual U.N. gathering.
