Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina leaves here tomorrow on an eight-day official visit to New York to attend the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Sources in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said the Prime Minister will address the Assembly on September 27, apart from attending a number of high level side events and bilateral talks. Prime Minister will hold separate meetings with her Indian counterpart Dr Manmohan Singh and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
An Emirates flight carrying the Prime Minister and her entourage will leave Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) at 9.30pm. She is scheduled to reach John F Kennedy (JKF) International Airport at 8.15am on September 23. On the way, the Prime Minister will have a two-hour stopover in Dubai. Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Bangladesh Ambassador to USA Akramul Qader, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations Dr A K Abdul Momen will receive the Prime Minister at the airport.
From the airport the Prime Minister, in a motorcade, will be taken to Hotel Grand Hyatt at Park Avenue where she will stay during the visit.
On September 23, Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma will call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her hotel suite. In the evening, she will attend a reception to be hosted by US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at Waldrof Astoria Hotel.
Later, she will attend a programme of International Organization for South-South Cooperation (IOSSC) at its office.
On September 24, the Prime Minister will attend a welcome reception given by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and opening session of the 68th UNGA at UNHQ.
Later, the Prime Minister will attend a high level side event on ‘Tackling the Unfinished Business: Accelerating MDG Progress’. She will also join UN Secretary General’s Luncheon Reception. From UNHQ, the Prime Minister will reach Permanent Mission of Qatar at UN Plaza at First Avenue to call on the Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
In the afternoon, the Prime Minister will attend as one of the keynote speakers of ‘Leaders Dialogue: HLPF-From Vision to Action’ at Trusteeship Council Chamber at UNHQ.
Later, foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and China will call on Prime Minister at UNHQ.
On September 25, the Prime Minister will attend a round table of the special event of the President of the General Assembly to follow up efforts made towards achieving the MDGs. Later, she will attend the “Global Education First Initiative (GEFI) Anniversary Even at ECOSOC Chamber at UNHQ. In the evening, Sheikh Hasina will have a dinner at Bangladesh House.
On September 26, the Prime Minister will sign ‘Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War of Convention on Certain Chemical Weapons (CCW)’ at UNHQ. She will also attend a high Level Plenary Session on Nuclear Disarmament.
On September 27, the Prime Minister will deliver her statement at the 68th UNGA. Later, she will attend a press conference at Bangladesh Permanent Mission in New York.
On September 28, the Prime Minister will hold meeting with her Indian counterpart Dr Manmohan Singh at New York Palace Hotel. In the afternoon, the Prime Minister will have a meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. In the afternoon, the Prime Minister will attend a programme of Bangladesh community at Hotel Hilton. On September 29 morning, the Prime Minister will leave New York for home and she is expected to reach Dhaka at 5.40pm on September 30 via Dubai.
-With BSS/The Independent input
