Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina got a rapturous welcome from Bangladeshi officials and hundreds of Awami League activists on Monday as she arrived in United States to attend the 69th United Nations General Assembly.
BNP activists, however, staged protests during her arrival at the JF Kennedy airport at 10:20am [BDT 8:20pm].
An Emirates flight carried Prime Minister Hasina, also the president of ruling Awami League, and members of her entourage.
Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Bangladesh ambassador to the United States Mohammad Ziauddin and permanent representative to the UN AK Abdul Momen, PM’s principal secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder, leaders of Awami League US chapter and a large number of expatriate Bangladeshis welcomed the prime minister at the airport.
After the warm reception at JFK, the prime minister in a ceremonial motorcade was taken to Hotel Grand Hyatt, where she will be staying during her eight-day visit.
Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, Health Minister Mohammad Nasim, Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, Minister for Environment and Forests Anwar Hossain Manju, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Food Minister Qamrul Islam, PM’s adviser on political affairs HT Imam, PM’s adviser on economic affairs Mashiur Rahman, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, and PM’s adviser on media Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, among others, are accompanying the prime minister.
A group of lawmakers, leaders of different political parties, eminent personalities, senior officials, journalists and business leaders are also accompanying her.
Awami League activists from across the United States gathered at JFK in the morning and shouted slogans to receive the leader.
BNP activists also came together at the airport and staged a protest rally. They shouted anti-Awami League slogans.
A fearful situation arose as two political groups took nearby positions. They kept shouting slogans in presence of hundreds of police.
US AL president Siddikur Rahman, general secretary Sajjadur Rahman, leaders Kazi Kayes, Shahin Azmal and Abdur Rahim led the AL gathering while BNP leaders Abdul Latif Samrat, Zillur Rahman, Abdul Baten led the BNP protests.
Zillur Rahman said they protested at the Awami League government’s corruption in Bangladesh and the waste of money during the prime minister’s visit as she took an entourage of 180 members for attending a meeting.
He also said that they would hold such protest while the prime minister would address the UN.
Prime Minister’s Schedule
Sheikh Hasina will attend the opening session of the UNGA at the UN Headquarters on September 24. She will address the UNGA on September 27.
During her stay in New York, she will join a reception to be hosted by US president Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama and another reception on September 23 and a luncheon of UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon on September 24.
On September 23, she will attend the inaugural session of the Climate Conference 2014 and deliver a speech at the “national action and ambition announcement” session of the conference.
She will take part in a high-level discussion of the Global Education First Initiative on September 24.
On September 25, Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to join a luncheon to be hosted by American Chamber and American Business Council at Grand Hyatt Hotel. On the same day, she will join a discussion of the Commonwealth Heads of the Government (CHG).
The Prime Minister will attend a summit on “the international peacekeeping operation” at the UN Headquarters on September 26. She will join a function marking the 40th anniversary of Bangladesh’s UN membership the same day. On September 27, she will attend the Global Citizens’ Festival at Great Lawn at Central Park.
On the sidelines of the UNGA, Sheikh Hasina will hold a meeting with her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on September 27.
She will also meet Norwegian Premier Erna Solberg, Belarusian Prime Minister Mikhal V. Myasnikovich, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hmad Al-Thani and Nepalese Prime Minister Sushil Koirala.
Sheikh Hasina will meet the press at Bangladesh’s Permanent Mission on September 26. She will also join a reception to be accorded by the expatriate Bangladeshis on September 27.
Source: Prothom Alo
