PM reaches New York to attend UNGA

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reached New York on Sunday afternoon (local time) to attend the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

"A VVIP chartered flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the Prime Minister and her entourage landed at John F Kennedy International Airport at 5:40pm on Sunday (local time)," PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told UNB.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, Foreign Senior Secretary Masud Bin Momen and PMO Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah, among others, are accompanying the Prime Minister during the visit, he said.

Bangladesh Ambassador to USA M Shahidul Islam and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations in New York Rabab Fatima received her at the airport, said Ihsanul Karim.

Besides, leaders and activists of USA Awami League, Jubo League and Swechhasebak League welcomed the Prime Minister at the airport.

This is her first foreign trip since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020.

She is going to join the UNGA for the 18th time as the head of government of Bangladesh and will address the UNGA general debate on September 24.

Besides, Sheikh Hasina will attend the opening session of the UNGA general debate on September 21 and other sideline events in the UN headquarters (UNHQ) on September 20-24. She will also have talks with a number of leaders during her stay in New York. The PM is expected to return home on October 1 next.

She will stay at the Hotel Lotte Palace in New York from September 19 to 25.