State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Saturday said the upcoming session of the United Nations General Assembly will provide Bangladesh, under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, with a major opportunity to highlight its national interests, economic potential and development priorities on the global stage.
"It marks a new journey, a new possibility and a new aspiration," she said while addressing a discussion titled "Upcoming UNGA and Branding of Bangladesh" as the chief guest, organised by the Centre for Non-Resident Bangladeshi (Centre for NRB), a non-profit research organisation for expatriate Bangladeshis.
Prime Minister Tarique is scheduled to attend the UNGA for the first time since the establishment of the new democratic government.
Following the government's "Bangladesh First" foreign policy, Tarique Rahman is set to present Bangladesh to the international community as a democratic, confident, responsible and promising nation.
The high-level segment of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly is scheduled to begin in New York on September 21.
She said Bangladesh should no longer be portrayed internationally merely through floods, disasters or the repatriation of undocumented migrants.
"Bangladesh has opportunities in tourism, business and investment, and it has the potential to be presented properly on the world map. We are trying to brand Bangladesh in the right way. The government alone cannot do everything; all of us must work together," the State Minister said.
She said the significance of the session is heightened by the fact that Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman will preside over the General Assembly.
"This is definitely a matter of pride for Bangladesh," Shama said, noting that Bangladesh's success in the election came despite Cyprus having worked for more than a decade to secure the position.
Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur is now in New York and will take up his responsibilities as President of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly soon, a tenure that will coincide with a crucial period for the world body, including the selection of a new UN secretary-general.
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.
The State Minister credited Bangladesh's diplomatic efforts, including those undertaken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Bangladesh's mission in New York, as well as the country's stability and democratic government, for playing an important role in the victory.
"Therefore, considering all these aspects, this upcoming session will be extremely important for us," she said.
PM to Attend Special UN Session on Rohingya Crisis
On the Rohingya crisis, Shama said a dedicated session would be held during the UN General Assembly with the participation of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
She said the crisis has become increasingly complex because of the involvement of the Myanmar authorities, the Arakan Army, regional actors and competing international interests.
"In fact, the problem has deepened. A regional complication has been created. Without international pressure, resolving this problem will become very difficult," she said, urging Bangladeshis abroad and civil-society representatives to help mobilise international support for a sustainable solution.
The State Minister said the Rohingya crisis is a big problem for Bangladesh. "But it's not Bangladesh's problem. The problem was not created by Bangladesh."
The State Minister also highlighted Bangladesh's reputation at the UN, particularly for its contribution to UN peacekeeping operations.
Turning to the government's economic priorities, Shama said economic diplomacy is a major component of the government's manifesto.
She said the government inherited what she described as a "broken economy" and a "broken banking sector" and that restoring the economy and bringing it onto a sound footing would take time.
She said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has been working from the outset to improve transparency and accountability in the banking sector and create a more investor-friendly environment for both foreign investors and non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs).
"We want to create an environment where our Bangladeshis will return to invest, and foreigners will also invest here," she said.
The government is also working to simplify investment procedures through digital services and a one-stop mechanism so that investors do not have to visit multiple government offices for different services, she said.
Shama said the government is expanding online facilities for registration, company name registration and other procedures to make doing business easier.
She also highlighted the "One Citizen, One Card" initiative, under which information currently held by different government agencies would be consolidated into a single database and linked to one card for each citizen.
The State Minister placed particular emphasis on protecting Bangladeshi migrant workers and curbing illegal migration.
She said the government holds expatriate Bangladeshis and remittance earners in high regard, but illegal migration facilitated by broker networks remains a serious concern.
Bangladeshi migrants have been falling victim to broker cartels while attempting to travel through dangerous routes, including the Mediterranean, under false promises of employment in countries such as Italy and Spain, she said.
"We are addressing this issue, and the current Prime Minister has taken direct action," Shama said.
She said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been working closely with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment to tackle illegal migration.
For the first time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established a dedicated Migration Wing to address illegal migration and issues faced by Bangladeshi expatriates, she said.
The government is also focusing on sending skilled workers abroad through more effective vocational training and skills development, with the aim of ensuring dignified and legal employment for both men and women, she said.
Shama urged the NRB community to help raise awareness among potential migrants about the risks posed by illegal migration and broker networks.
The State Minister said government agencies have begun working at the grassroots level, identifying districts where illegal migration is more prevalent and coordinating with local administrations to tackle the problem.
She said the government is working to simplify visa procedures, including provisions relating to visa-on-arrival, and that the revised policy is expected to be placed before Parliament.
"Everything the Prime Minister is doing aims to make Bangladesh more investment-friendly," she said.
Shama also stressed the importance of economic diversification, particularly in the energy sector, in view of recent global conflicts and disruptions.
The State Minister highlighted the government's focus on the Blue Economy, saying the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a dedicated Maritime Wing working on the sector.
She also pointed to the introduction of the Creative Economy as a new sector in this year's budget.
The sector, she said, will provide particular opportunities for women entrepreneurs and help bring Bangladesh's art, cottage industries, handicrafts and cultural heritage into the mainstream economy while promoting them internationally.
Centre for NRB Chairperson M S Shekil Chowdhury said the organisation arranged the programme as part of its annual World Conference Series to showcase Bangladesh's positive developments to the international community.
He said the series also seeks to deepen Bangladesh's global engagement and encourage expatriate Bangladeshis to invest in the country and remit their earnings through legal channels.