Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka for New York via Abu Dhabi this afternoon on an eight-day official visit to the USA to attend the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

She will deliver the country statement at the 74th Annual General Debate of the UNGA in New York on September 27.

During the visit, the prime minister will hold bilateral meetings with her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on September 24 and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on September 28.

A VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, carrying the premier and her entourage members, took off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for Abu Dhabi at 3:35pm.

Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Jatiya Sangsad Chief Whip Noor-e-Alam Liton Chowdhury and State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali were present at the airport to see the prime minister off.

Besides, the cabinet secretary, the chiefs of the three services, the PM’s principal secretary, the US ambassador in Dhaka, the UAE ambassador to Bangladesh, the Vatican’s ambassador and high civil and military officials were present at the airport.

The flight will land at Abu Dhabi International Airport in the UAE at 6:30pm (local time).

Bangladesh Ambassador to the UAE Mohammad Imran will receive the premier at the airport.

After a one-day stopover in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Hasina will fly to New York by an Etihad Airways flight at 10:30 am (local time) on September 22.

The premier will arrive at John F Kennedy International Airport in New York at 4:25pm (local time) the same day where Bangladesh Ambassador to USA Mohammad Ziauddin and Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN Masud Bin Momen will welcome her.