Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is leading a 38-member delegation to the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, with his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman accompanying him.
The delegation includes five Cabinet members – Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman, and Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman, whose name is on the delegation list but who will preside over the 81st UNGA session.
The delegation also includes State Ministers for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir and Shama Obaed Islam, State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj, Prime Minister’s advisers Mahdi Amin and Rehan Asif Asad, Invest Bangladesh Authority Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Special Assistants to the Prime Minister Tanvir Shahriar Ghani, SM Ziauddin Hyder and Dr Md Saimum Parvez, and Biman Bangladesh Airlines Chairman Rumee A Hossain.
Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam, Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN Irene Khan and Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Tareq Md Ariful Islam are also members of the delegation.
Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Abu Abdullah M Saleh (Saleh Shibly) and Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon are accompanying the Prime Minister.
The delegation also includes Prime Minister’s officials, including Assistant Military Secretary Lt Col Md Junnun Nahid, ADC Lt Cdr Md Sohanur Rahman and protocol officers.
The security team includes SSF Director General Major General Mahbubus Samad Chowdhury and PGR Commander Brigadier General Ghulam Ariqul Alam.
Two eminent persons — Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh Secretary General Saiful Haque and Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam Bangladesh Secretary General Sayed Gulam Mahiuddin — are also accompanying the Prime Minister.
Rumon said heads of government had in the past travelled to the UNGA with delegations comprising more than 100 members.
“This is the first time Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is travelling to the United Nations with such a small delegation,” he said.