Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived here Monday morning on an eight-day official visit to the USA to attend the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
An Emirates flight, carrying the Prime Minister and her 134 member entourage including 41 businessmen, touched the JKF International Airport at 9 am.
Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA Akramul Qader, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations Dr AK Abdul Momen received the Prime Minister at the JKF International Airport.
A good number of leaders and activists of Awami League and other like minded organizations also welcomed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the airport chanting slogans and holding various types of placards.
From the airport, the Prime Minister was taken in a motorcade to Hotel Grand Hyatt at Park Avenue, New York, where she will be staying.
Later, in the day (Monday), 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.
After the reception, she will attend a programme of International Organization for South-South Cooperation (IOSSC) at its office.
The Prime Minister will address the UN General Assembly on September 27 apart from attending a number of high-level events and bilateral talks on the sidelines of the UNGA.
Hasina is expected to have meetings with her Indian counterpart Dr Manmohan Singh and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on September 28.
On September 24, the Prime Minister will attend a welcome reception to be given by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and join the opening session of the 68th UNGA at the UN headquarters. Later, she will attend a high-level event on ‘Tackling the Unfinished Business: Accelerating MDG Progress’ on the sidelines and will join UN Secretary General’s Luncheon Reception.
From the UN headquarters, Hasina will arrive at the Permanent Mission of Qatar at UN Plaza at First Avenue to meet 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 the UN headquarters. Later, Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia and China will call on the Prime Minister, also at the UN headquarters.
On September 25, the Prime Minister will attend a roundtable of the Special event of the President of the General Assembly to follow up on efforts made towards achieving the MDGs. Later, she will attend the ‘Global Education First Initiative (GEFI) Anniversary Event’ at ECOSOC Chamber at the UN headquarters. In the evening, Hasina will have 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 the UNHQ. She will also attend a high-level plenary session on nuclear disarmament.
On September 27, Sheikh Hasina will deliver her statement at the 68th session of the UNGA. Later, she will attend a press conference at Bangladesh Permanent Mission in New York.
On September 28, the Prime Minister will held 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, she will attend a programme of Bangladesh community at Hotel Hilton.
On September 29, Hasina will leave New York for home and is expected to reach Dhaka at 5:40 pm on September 30 via Dubai.
Source: UNB Connect