Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will travel to New York in the United States on September 21 to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, according to sources at the Prime Minister’s Office. He is scheduled to address the General Assembly on September 24. The trip will be his first visit to New York since taking office as head of government and his first speech at the UN General Assembly as prime minister.

Preparations for the New York visit have already begun. Sources said this year’s General Assembly session is particularly significant for Bangladesh because the newly elected president of the UN General Assembly, Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman, will preside over the 81st session. Besides his address, the prime minister will attend a reception hosted by US President Donald Trump.

The prime minister is also expected to join an interaction event organised by expatriate Bangladeshis, while meetings with several heads of government may take place on the sidelines. The visit is expected to be brief, with a stay of four to five days in New York. He is expected to leave the city on September 25 or 26. The delegation will be limited to no more than 35 people, sources said.