There is no possibility of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s India visit before the upcoming UN General Assembly session, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir said Saturday.
Although the date of the prime minister’s proposed India visit has not yet been finalised, bilateral discussions on the matter are underway, he said during an exchange of views with leaders of the Electronic Media Journalists Association (EMJA) in Sylhet in the morning.
The meeting was arranged after journalists covering the state minister’s programme on Friday were allegedly harassed.
Television journalists in Sylhet on Friday decided to boycott news coverage of the state minister and the local BNP, after several media workers were harassed by political activists at the Hazrat Shahjalal Shrine.
Kobir, visiting Sylhet for the first time since taking office as state minister, offered prayers at the shrine after Jummah prayers. According to a pre-scheduled program, he was supposed to brief the media on the shrine's premises.
The 81st session of the General Assembly will formally open on September 8, with world leaders expected to gather at UN Headquarters in New York later in the month for the annual high-level general debate.
Responding to various questions after the meeting, Humaiun Kobir said the extent of corruption in the energy sector in the past could be understood by looking at the sector’s overall condition.
He said the current government is giving the energy sector the highest priority.
The state minister also said discussions are underway on the Mecca Pact and Bangladesh’s joining the agreement would not be unusual.
“Many countries in the world are part of multiple security alliances. Bangladesh will join wherever necessary based on its national interests,” he said.
On the purchase of Boeing aircraft, Kobir said no one was pressuring Bangladesh to buy Boeing planes.
“Bangladesh is buying Boeing aircraft from the United States because there is a demand for them. More aircraft may be purchased if necessary,” he said.
BNP Central Assistant Organising Secretary and Sylhet WASA Chairman Miftah Siddique and Sylhet district BNP General Secretary and Sylhet-6 MP Imran Ahmed Chowdhury were present at the meeting.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat on Monday said Bangladesh is buying 14 Boeing aircraft from the United States and it has also plans to lease some additional aircraft.
“US had requested that Bangladesh use Boeing aircraft and the government is acting accordingly,”he told reporters at the conference room of the Mymensingh deputy commissioner responding to a question over the government’s reported plan to purchase Boeing aircraft from the United States.