Rohingya crisis to dominate PM's UN visit

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who left Dhaka on Friday morning, is expected to reach New York this afternoon to attend the 73rd UN General Assembly where she will make specific proposals for a permanent solution to the Rohingya crisis and their safe, dignified repatriation.

After making a nearly two-day stopover in London, the prime minister will leave for New York at 10:50am (UK time) today by a British Airways flight, which is scheduled to reach Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey at 1:40pm local time.

Bangladesh Ambassador to the US Mohammad Ziauddin and Bangladesh Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Masud Bin Momen will welcome her at the airport.

The prime minister will place some fresh proposals in continuation of the previous five-point proposals she made at the last UNGA for a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis, through early implementation of recommendations by the Kofi Annan-led Commission.

In the 72nd UNGA last year, the PM proposed that Myanmar unconditionally stop the “ethnic cleansing” in Rakhine, create “safe zones” inside its territory to protect all civilians irrespective of religion and ethnicity under UN supervision, and take back all forcibly displaced Rohingyas in a sustainable manner.

The theme of this year's UNGA is “Making the United Nations relevant to all people: Global leadership and shared responsibilities for peaceful, equitable and sustainable societies”.

Like every year, the prime minister will deliver her speech in Bangla at UNGA at 7:30pm local time on September 27.

During her six-day stay in New York, she will attend 12 high-level events, including bilateral meetings with world and UN leaders, on the sidelines of UNGA. 

As per the schedule, the PM will attend a reception hosted by the expatriate Bangladeshis at Hotel New York Hilton Midtown this evening, her first day in NY.

Tomorrow she will attend a meeting on “Global Call to Action on World Drug Problem” and another on “Global Compact on Refugees: A Model for Greater Solidarity and Cooperation” with UNHCR Chief Philippo Grandi.

The prime minister will also hold a bilateral meeting with Netherlands' Prime Minister Mark Rutte and attend a reception to be hosted by US President Donald Trump in honour of the participating heads of states and governments in UNGA.

On September 25, Hasina will address an event on “Cyber Security and International Cooperation”. PM's son and ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wazed will preside over the meeting. The prime minister will also hold a bilateral meeting with Queen Maxima of the Netherlands and give an interview to Reuters in the evening.

The next day, on September 26, Executive Director of Unicef Henrietta Fore, UN's refugee chief Filippo Grandi, and UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy on Myanmar Ambassador Christine Schraner Burgener will call on the prime minister.

On September 27, before giving her speech at UNGA, Sheikh Hasina will join a side event on “the situation of Rohingya minority in Myanmar” organised by Saudi Arabia and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

At the meeting, she will discuss with heads of OIC member states how to make a collaborative effort from the Muslim Ummah in resolving the long-pending Rohingya crisis.

The prime minister will hold a bilateral meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on September 27 at 12:50pm local time. She will then have a crucial meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at 2:45pm.

On the same day, the PM will receive two international awards for her humanitarian roles in the Rohingya response.

The Inter Press Service news agency will give her “International Achievement Award” for her exemplary humanitarian response by giving shelter to over a million of Rohingyas. Earlier, former UN secretary-generals Kofi Annan and Boutros Boutros-Ghali and Finland's President Martti Ahtisaari received this award.

Besides, the Global Hope Coalition would give her the “Special Recognition for Outstanding Leadership” award for her “farsighted leadership” during the Rohingya crisis.

Hasina will hold a press conference at the Bangladeshi Permanent Mission in New York on September 28. She will depart the USA at 7:30pm local time the next day and return to Dhaka on October 1 via London.