PM Sheikh Hasina arrives in the USA for the 78th UNGA session
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh has landed in the United States to attend the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).She arrived at JFK International Airport in New York on September 17, following a four-hour layover at London's Heathrow Airport. The premier and her entourage traveled aboard a British Airways flight, BA 1593, and were warmly received by Bangladesh Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, Muhammad Abdul Muhith, and Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA, Muhammad Imran, upon their arrival. Notably, leaders of the Awami League (AL) and its associated bodies were also present at the airport to welcome her. Earlier in the day, the premier and her delegation departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka aboard a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight en route to London. During the flight, Sheikh Hasina took the time to interact with passengers. Prime Minister Hasina's stay in New York, from September 17 to 22, will be packed with significant engagements. She is scheduled to attend the high-level General Debate of the 78th UNGA session at the UN Headquarters on September 19 and will address the assembly on September 22 between 1 pm and 2 pm local time. Additionally, she has been invited to join a dinner hosted by US President Joe Biden on September 19. Sheikh Hasina will also participate in several high-level side events during the UNGA session, focusing on critical issues such as the Rohingya crisis, climate change, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), universal health, and finance. These events will include bilateral and courtesy meetings. Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen provided insights into the premier's agenda during a press briefing at the foreign ministry, stating that her address at the General Debate will highlight Bangladesh's remarkable development progress, inclusive economic growth, achievements in the health sector, and global concerns such as peace, security, safe migration, the Rohingya crisis, and climate justice. The overarching theme of the 78th UNGA session is "Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress, and sustainability for all." On September 18, Prime Minister Hasina is expected to deliver a keynote speech at a high-level conference titled "Thought for Food - Collaborating for Food Supply Chain Innovation to accelerate the SDGs," organized by UNIDO and Deloitte at Rockefeller Center, New York. She will also address another conference on the same day, titled "SDG Summit - Leaders' Dialogue 4," focusing on strengthening integrated policies and public institutions for achieving the SDGs. In the evening of September 18, the premier will attend a high-level private dinner marking the United Nations' 2023 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Summit, hosted by Gordon Brown, UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Global Education, and Sarah Brown, Executive Chair of the Global Business Coalition for Education, at Lexington Venue, New York. On September 19, she will address a High-Level Roundtable on international financial architecture, hosted by the Spanish prime minister and president of the European Council and European Union (EU), at CR-16, UN Headquarters. Simultaneously, she will participate in a High-Level Side Event on Community Clinic-based Medical Services co-organized by Bangladesh, Antigua and Barbuda, Bhutan, China, Malaysia, Chatham House, and Suchona Foundation at CR-11, UNHQ. September 20 will see Prime Minister Hasina as a keynote speaker, alongside Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, at a High-level Debate on Financing for Development (FfD), titled "Scaling up affordable and accessible international public financing for sustainable development and ensuring efficiency" at the Trusteeship Council Chamber. On the same day, she will also attend the Secretary General's Climate Ambition Summit, High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response, Annual Meeting of UNGA Platform of the Women Leaders, and a High-Level Thematic Session of the Climate Ambition Summit, as well as sign an agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ). September 21 will witness Prime Minister Hasina's participation in a High-Level side event on the Rohingya Crisis, hosted by Bangladesh, Canada, Gambia, Malaysia, Turkey, UK, and USA. She will also join a Breakfast Summit addressing the existential threats posed by sea-level rise and a High-Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage. During her visit, the prime minister will receive courtesy calls from several prominent figures, including the UN Secretary-General, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, UN Secretary-General's Genocide Adviser, newly elected International Organization for Migration (IOM) Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, and International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General. Furthermore, Prime Minister Hasina is expected to hold bilateral meetings with Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen and President of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Bilateral Booth, UNHQ. After her engagements in New York, she will depart for Washington DC on September 23, where she will stay until September 29. Following that, she will leave Washington DC for London on September 29 via a British Airways flight (BA-292) and arrive at London's Heathrow Airport on September 30. Bangladesh High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK), Saida Muna Tasneem, will receive her at the airport. Finally, the prime minister will depart from London's Heathrow Airport for Dhaka on October 3 aboard a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight (BG 208), arriving at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka, on October 4. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to the USA and her active participation in the 78th UNGA session underscore Bangladesh's commitment to global issues and sustainable development goals.
