PM flies for London Friday to join 73rd UNGA

Desk Report: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina leaves here for London Friday morning en route to New York on a weeklong official visit to the United States to attend the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The prime minister will address the 73rd Session of the UNGA at the UN Headquarters in New York in the evening (local time) of September 27 and have a meeting with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres the same day, PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim said.

On the sidelines of the UNGA, she will also hold bilateral meetings with a number of world leaders including Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

The Bangladesh premier will attend a Welcome Reception to be hosted by US President Donald J. Trump, while US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is expected to call on Sheikh Hasina, the press secretary said.

The premier will attend a number of important events and highlight the Rohingya issue in the upcoming UNGA, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali said in a press conference on Thursday.

The prime minister will receive two international awards by Inter Press Service and Global Hope for her contribution to Rohingya refugees and conducting peaceful diplomacy for permanent solution to the Rohingya crisis, he added.

A VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the premier will depart Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for the British capital on Friday morning.

The flight is scheduled to arrive at Heathrow Airport in London at 3:55 pm local time the same day.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Nazmul Qaunine will receive the premier at the airport.

After making nearly a two-day stopover in the British capital, the prime minister will leave London for New York on Sunday morning by a British Airways flight.

The flight is scheduled to reach Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey at 1:40 pm local time.

Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA Mohammad Ziauddin and Bangladesh Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Masud Bin Momen will welcome the premier at the airport.

After the reception at the airport, a ceremonial motorcade will escort the prime minister to Hotel Grand Hyatt New York, where she will be staying during her visit to the USA.

On the first day of her visit to the USA, the premier will attend a reception to be accorded to her by the Bangladesh community in the United States at Hotel New York Hilton Midtown in the evening.

The premier will begin the second day of her visit by joining the High-level Event on Global Call to Action on World Drug Problem.

The Permanent Mission of the United States to the UN will arrange the event at the UN Headquarters (UNHQ).

The prime minister will take part in a group photo session prior to statements by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and US President Donald Trump.

The premier will later join the High-level Event on the ‘Global Compact on Refugees: A Model for Greater Solidarity and Cooperation’, to be organised by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees at ECOSOC Chamber in the UNHQ.

Sheikh Hasina will hold a meeting with her Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte at the Bilateral Meeting Booth, UNHQ.

The premier will attend a Luncheon Roundtable Meeting to be organised by the US Chamber of Commerce at Hotel Grant Hyatt New York. _BSS
 

risingbd/Dhaka/September 20, 2018/A K Azad