PM reaches Abu Dhabi

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived Abu Dhabi this afternoon en route to New York to attend the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

A Biman Bangladesh Airlines VVIP flight carrying the premier and her entourage members landed at Abu Dhabi Airport in the UAE capital at 4.40 pm local time, PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told BSS.

Bangladesh Ambassador to the UAE Muhammad Imran received the prime minister at the airport.

Earlier, Sheikh Hasina left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka for Abu Dhabi at 2.10 pm (BST).

Deputy Leader of Parliament Sajeda Chowdhury, Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, PM's Media Adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Jatiya Sangsad Chief Whip ASM Feroz, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, Cabinet Secretary Muhammad Shafiul Alam, the chiefs of three services, the dean of the diplomatic corps and high civil and military officials were present at the airport to see the premier off.

After making stopover in the UAE capital, Sheikh Hasina will leave for New York by an Etihad Airways flight at 10:15 am on Sunday Abu Dhabi time.

The flight is scheduled to reach John F Kennedy International Airport in New York at 4.20 pm local time the same day.

Bangladesh Ambassador to USA M Ziauddin and Bangladesh's Permanent Representative to UN Masud Bin Momen will receive the prime minister at the airport.

During her visit, the prime minister will stay in Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York.

Sheikh Hasina will address the UNGA in the afternoon on September 21 and have a bilateral meeting with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on the same day.

On September 18, the prime minister will attend a high-level meeting on UN Reforms to be hosted by US President Donald Trump and a high-level meeting on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse at UN Headquarters (UNHQ).

In the afternoon, the prime minister is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with her Bhutanese counterpart Tshering Tobgay before attending a high-level follow-up meeting on Global Deal for Decent Work and Inclusive Growth at Convene Conference Centre.

On September 19, the prime minister along with other heads of state and government will join the official lunch to be hosted by the UN secretary general.

The lunch will be followed by a high-level roundtable of the UN Secretary General's High Level Panel on Women's Economic Empowerment for Leaving No One Behind.

The prime minister will join the OIC Contact Group meeting on Rohingya Minorities at UNHQ in the afternoon. Later, she is likely to hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Kumar Jugnauth.

In the evening, the prime minister will attend a reception for the Commonwealth Heads of State/Government to be hosted by British Prime Minister Theresa May and Prime Minister of Malta Dr. Joseph Muscat, current Commonwealth Chair-in-Office.

Sheikh Hasina will join a welcome reception of US President Donald Trump in the evening at Palace Hotel at Madison Avenue. Later, she will attend a reception of Bangladesh community at New York Marriot Marquis.