Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday left Dhaka on an eight-day official visit to the United States to attend the 70th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
A VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the PM and her entourage took off from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 10:00am.
Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon and PM’s Media Adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury were present at the airport.
Besides, Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hussain Bhuiyan, PM’s Principal Secretary Abul Kalam Azad, the chiefs of the three services, the US Ambassador and the British High Commissioner to Bangladesh as well as high civil and military officials were also there.
After nearly a three-hour stopover at the Heathrow International Airport in London, she will fly to New York by a British Airways flight that will land at the John F Kennedy International Airport.
Delegation members of the PM include Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Expatriates Welfare Minister Nurul Islam, Prime Minister’s Political Affairs Adviser HT Imam, International Affairs Adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi, Economic Affairs Adviser Mashiur Rahman, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam.
This year’s UNGA is being considered very important for Bangladesh as the “Champions of the Earth”, the highest environment-related award of the UN, and the ‘ICT’s in Sustainable Development Award’ of the International Telecommunication Union would be handed over to the Bangladesh prime minister.
During her stay in New York, Hasina along with other heads of state and the government will attend the opening session of the 70th UN General Assembly on September 28.
On her way back home, she will stay in London for a day where she will be accorded a community reception at a hotel on October 2.
The premier will return home the next day.
