Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set to hold a bilateral meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in New York on Thursday, 24 September, on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The prime minister’s Press Wing said the meeting is scheduled to run from 11:30 a.m. to noon at the Secretariat Building of the United Nations headquarters.
Tarique arrived in New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly after leaving Dhaka on 21 September. He is slated to deliver his inaugural address to the General Assembly on Thursday.
The 81st United Nations General Assembly’s general debate will take place from 22 to 26 September, with a final session on 28 September, under the theme “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.”
Tarique is slated to address the General Assembly at approximately 5:30 p.m. New York time, occupying the 11th of 18 speaking slots in the afternoon session, which began at 3 p.m.
The prime minister is scheduled to attend a high‑level meeting on Thursday morning at United Nations headquarters to address the existential threats posed by sea‑level rise.
He is scheduled to give a five‑minute opening statement at the meeting, which is included among the high‑level events of the 81st session.
At 12:00, Tarique is scheduled to attend a high‑level event on integrating midwifery into primary health‑care to prevent maternal and newborn deaths, and he is expected to deliver the opening remarks. His wife may deliver the closing remarks at the same event.
He is also scheduled to meet UN Secretary‑General António Guterres from 2:15 p.m. to 2:25 p.m.
At 1:10 p.m., he is scheduled to meet Sweden’s foreign minister for a brief courtesy exchange and a photo session.
From 14:30 to 15:00, he is slated to hold a bilateral meeting with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul at the United Nations bilateral booth.
After delivering his address to the General Assembly, Tarique is expected to return either to Bangladesh’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations or to the Hyatt Grand Central hotel in New York, where he is staying.
He will later attend a dinner hosted by Bangladesh's permanent representative to the United Nations.
On Friday, 25 September, Tarique is due to attend a breakfast meeting with Wall Street representatives, an event organised by JPMorgan at the bank’s Manhattan headquarters.
He is scheduled to meet Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al‑Hamad Al‑Sabah at the Kuwaiti Permanent Mission at 11:00 a.m.
He is due to meet Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, president of the International Peace Institute, for a lunch at noon, during which they will discuss international developments, global trends and risks.
He is also scheduled to meet leaders of US BNP at the Grand Hyatt hotel.
Tarique is set to depart New York for Dhaka at 11 p.m. on Friday aboard an Emirates Airlines flight that will transit through Dubai.
He is expected to reach Dubai at 20:00 local time on 26 September and to depart for Dhaka at 02:00 on 27 September, with an arrival at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport scheduled for 08:40 Bangladesh time.
Why it matters
The bilateral meeting between the leaders of Bangladesh and Pakistan on the UNGA sidelines marks a significant diplomatic engagement between the two nations.