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DHAKA: Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is poised to make political history for the country by delivering his maiden speech to the upcoming 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 24. Tarique Rahman will become the third member of his immediate family to stand at the world body’s highest podium, solidifying a unique legacy spanning more than four decades. This rare milestone traces back to his father, the late President Ziaur Rahman, who became the first member of the family to address the UNGA during its 11th Special Session on August 26, 1980.
Thirteen years later, his mother, former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, expanded the legacy by addressing the 48th UNGA session on October 1, 1993, subsequently speaking before the assembly multiple times up until 2005. Now, following a landslide election victory earlier this year, Tarique Rahman returns to the international stage to articulate his administration’s vision.
The upcoming address carries added diplomatic weight for Dhaka, as Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman is concurrently serving as the President of the 81st General Assembly.
According to State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, the Prime Minister is scheduled to leave Dhaka for New York on September 21 to attend the 81st session of the UN General Assembly and is expected to address the Assembly on September 24.
Talking to the media, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir said Prime Minister Rahman will utilize his debut address to present a “changing Bangladesh” and outline a pragmatic “Bangladesh First” global outlook.
The premier’s speech is expected to focus heavily on Bangladesh’s recent democratic transformation, alongside pressing national and global issues including poverty eradication, economic prospects, and sustainable solutions to international crises. Climate action and climate financing will also feature prominently as Dhaka seeks greater equity from the global community. Furthermore, the ongoing Rohingya refugee crisis will remain a top priority during his bilateral discussions.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to depart Dhaka on September 21 accompanied by a streamlined delegation. On the sidelines of the UNGA, Rahman is slated to engage in a series of high-level bilateral meetings with world leaders, including Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, alongside heads of international organizations like UN Secretary-General António Guterres and World Bank President Ajay Banga.
This diplomatic tour marks a definitive chapter for the new government as it establishes its footing on the global stage.
