Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will leave for New York this morning to attend the United Nations General Assembly, where she will highlight her response to the Rohingya crisis and seek global support for a sustainable solution to it.

Her priority at the 73rd UNGA is to make some fresh proposals in continuation of her previous five-point proposal, which she had placed last year.

The earlier proposal sought a stronger role from the international community so that Myanmar took action and ensured the return of its 1.1 million nationals to their home of origin.

Briefing reporters at the ministry yesterday, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali said three vital issues would carry special significance for Bangladesh during the UNGA.

"The Rohingya issue comes on, followed by global peace and peacekeeping operations and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

"The international community is beside us," Ali said and added that the government wanted to see safe, sustainable and dignified return of Rohingyas.

He said the overall pressure on Myanmar was towards finding a permanent solution to the Rohingya crisis.

He said the PM would receive two international awards from separate organisations for her humanitarian role in the Rohingya response.

Hasina, who is set to address the general debate on September 27, will highlight the root causes of the Rohingya crisis and the challenges ahead. She will also make some specific recommendations in line with her previous proposals that incorporated implementation of the Kofi Annan Commission report, which was widely accepted by all, including Myanmar's allies China and Russia.

This year, Hasina is leading the biggest ever 311-member delegation, including 201 businesspersons, six ministers and advisers, 21 PMO officials and 16 eminent personalities, that includes 13 Awami League leaders.

A special aircraft of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the PM and her entourage members will depart Dhaka for London and reach New York on Sunday, following a one-day stopover in the UK.

She is scheduled to return home on October 1.

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."

During her official visit to the US, Hasina will hold bilateral meetings with participating leaders, including US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, the UN secretary general's special advocate on Inclusive Finance for Development, Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte, President of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, special envoy of UN secretary general on Myanmar, ICRC president, among others.

On the sidelines of the UNGA, the PM will attend a dozen high-level meetings, including the "global call of action on drug problem" to be hosted by US President Donald Trump on Monday.

Hasina will also attend the "High-level event on the global compact on refugees: a model for greater solidarity and cooperation" to be organised by UNHRC on the same day, where she will highlight the role of the international community in resolving the Rohingya crisis.

PM TO RECEIVE AWARDS

The foreign minister informed journalists that PM Sheikh Hasina would receive two international awards for her humanitarian role over the Rohingya issue from the Inter Press Service News Agency and Global Hope Coalition on September 27.

He said the Inter Press Service News Agency will give her an "International Achievement Award" for her exemplary humanitarian response. Former UN Secretaries-General Kofi Annan and Boutros Boutros-Ghali and Finland President Martti Ahtisaari previously received the award for their different roles.

Besides, non-profit Global Hope Coalition's board of directors would give her the '2018 Special Recognition for "Outstanding Leadership Award' for her "farsighted leadership" during the Rohingya crisis.