“She (PM) will place some specific proposals in continuation of her previous five-point proposal,” Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali told a press conference at his ministry on Thursday.
He said the government wants to see safe, sustainable and dignified return of Rohingyas and is working in a peaceful manner. “The international community is beside us.”
The Foreign Minister said all the countries will not speak in the same language but they all agreed on their safe return to Myanmar recognising that the root cause lies in Myanmar.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam and Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque were present at the press conference.
During the 72nd UNGA session, Prime Minister Hasina placed a five-point specific proposal to ensure the sustainable return of all the Rohingyas now in Bangladesh to Myanmar which was appreciated by the international community.
She is scheduled to leave Dhaka on Friday and reach New York on Sunday.
After the Myanmar Army crackdown in Rakhine state that began on August 25 last year, over 700,000 displaced Rohingyas entered Bangladesh, while several hundred thousand more have been living in Cox’s Bazar for years.
Minister Ali said the overall pressure on Myanmar has been increased to find a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis.
He said there will be a number of events at the 73rd UNGA through which Bangladesh will be able to describe the steps taken so far by Bangladesh and the challenges before the international community.
The Prime Minister will deliver her speech, as usual in Bangla, at the general debate of the UNGA on September 27, said Minister Ali.
She will also focus on establishing peace in the world, safe migration, rights of Palestinians, women empowerment, establishing Digital Bangladesh, climate change challenges and democratic continuity in the country apart from highlighting Bangladesh’s achievements in various areas, he said.
Bangladesh will also highlight the progress made so far, impressive economic growth and issues related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and challenges.
There will be an official delegation of around 50 members, including Minister Ali, to accompany the Prime Minister at the UNGA apart from a big business delegation who will attend at their own arrangements.
Countries like the US, the UK, Canada, France, Australia, OIC member states and other countries are also preparing to take up the issue seeking an early solution to the protracted problem, said a diplomatic source.
Bangladesh has urged the Member States of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to support Rohingya issue in their engagements during the forthcoming UN General Assembly.
The State Minister made the request when a 16-member delegation of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States (PUIC) visited Bangladesh recently.
The delegation, comprising of MPs from seven member states of the PUIC -- Algeria, Iran, Malaysia, Morocco, Sudan and Turkey -- also visited the Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar.
Heads of state or government, members of their parties and other delegations, observers or individual members will attend the UNGA session.
The theme of the 73rd UNGA is ‘Making the United Nations relevant to all people: Global leadership and shared responsibilities for peaceful, equitable and sustainable societies’.
Bangladesh will also highlight the progress made so far, impressive economic growth and issues related to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate change in the UNGA.
The Prime Minister will attend a high-level meeting on ‘Global Call of Action on World Drug Problem’ on September 24 to be initiated by US President Donald Trump.
On the same day, she will attend another high-level meeting on ‘Global Compact on Refugees: A Model for Greater Solidarity and Copeerat6ion at the invitation of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The Prime Minister will also attend a number of events, including Nelson Mandela Peace Summit, International Finance Facility for Education, Dialogue on Girls Education at the invitation of Canadian Prime Minister, Action for Peacekeeping, Cyber Security and International Cooperation, side event on Rihingya crisis and discussion on economic growth through women empowerment.
She will also attend a roundtable discussion of US Chamber of Commerce and an event of the World Economic Forum.
Sheikh Hasina will receive International Achievement Award from the Inter Press Service News Agency on September 27 for her role over Rohingya issue.
The high-level plenary meeting convened by the President of the General Assembly to commemorate and promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons will be held on September 26.
The UN Secretary-General will convene a high-level meeting on financing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development on September 24.
The event will encourage high-level political impetus for financing the SDGs and inspire action by all the development partners.
The Secretary General will open the event and deliver a keynote address, followed by remarks by the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, an opening panel comprising heads of state or government, and two subsequent panels featuring high-level representatives, leading investors, financial technology innovators and philanthropists, and other invited speakers.
The objectives of the event are: to launch the Secretary-General’s strategy for financing the 2030 Agenda; to take stock of efforts by different stakeholders to operationalise the Addis Ababa Action Agenda; and to build momentum around key actions and initiatives by national Governments, businesses and the international community that have high potential to accelerate the implementation of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the 2030 Agenda.
The general debate of the 73rd session will be held from September 25 to October 1.