Diplomatic Correspondent 

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s recent four-day official visit to New York for the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) successfully projected Bangladesh’s national interests, sovereignty, and aspirations for global partnerships, officials from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said on Wednesday. 

Speaking at a media briefing at the PMO’s Karabi Hall in Tejgaon, Prime Minister’s Adviser Mahdi Amin outlined the outcomes of the high-level visit, emphasizing that the Prime Minister championed reasoning, diplomacy, and human welfare over conflict on the global stage.

"During these four working days, the Prime Minister firmly presented Bangladesh’s interests and potential before the world community in different areas, while highlighting the country’s sovereignty and independence," Mahdi said.

According to Mahdi, the Prime Minister participated in 30 official programs in New York, held bilateral meetings with leaders of 11 countries, and delivered six speeches, including his maiden address to the UNGA General Debate.

The 35-member official delegation—comprising 15 ministers, state ministers, advisers, and special assistants—attended around 50 additional meetings, taking Bangladesh's total bilateral and multilateral engagements to over 80. A specialized sub-team also traveled to California to foster ties with US technology industries and academic institutions.

Highlighting the domestic context, Press Secretary AAM Saleh Shibly noted that the Prime Minister’s UN address reflected his core commitment to political and economic empowerment.

"The Prime Minister repeatedly emphasized citizens' empowerment at the UNGA, saying a state could never become strong by keeping its citizens powerless," Shibly said. He added that the delegation demonstrated a shift in political culture by traveling via commercial flights instead of chartered aircraft with a lean delegation.

During the summit, the Prime Minister presented Bangladesh’s ambitious environmental initiatives, including a target to plant 250 million trees over five years, the excavation of 20,000 kilometers of canals, and key projects such as the Teesta Master Plan and Padma Barrage. He also called for urgent climate justice and operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund.

On the Rohingya crisis, Bangladesh co-convened a high-level side event with The Gambia, where the Prime Minister placed a five-point roadmap focused on early, safe, voluntary, and dignified repatriation alongside regional cooperation and accountability.

In economic diplomacy, bilateral talks with Middle Eastern nations centered on manpower exports, while meetings with South Asian counterparts prioritized regional stability. Discussions with 25 leading Wall Street investors and representatives from Boeing focused on financial sector investment and aviation agreements.

Addressing reporters during the briefing, Prime Minister's Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman alleged that certain incidents were orchestrated both before and after the UN visit to divert public attention away from the government’s diplomatic achievements.

"When we were preparing to leave for America with the Prime Minister and his entourage, we saw that some incidents were made to happen," Ruman said, urging the media to extend fair cooperation as the government works to build a "civilized and humane Bangladesh."

Senior PMO media officials, including Speech Writer Mahfuzur Rahman and Deputy Press Secretaries Hasan Shiplu and Md. Suzauddhowla, were present at the press conference.