Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to highlight the challenges that developing countries have to face in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) giving utmost importance to multilateralism while delivering her speech at the UNGA on September 23.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, who will be accompanying the Prime Minister, said the Ukraine conflict has pushed the world into collective uncertainty when efforts are underway to recover from the damages caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Momen said the Prime Minister is likely to emphasis on finding solutions through mutual discussions to resolve the crisis without resorting to unilateral coercive measures or sanctions.

The Prime Minister will deliver her speech in Bangla like the previous years.

The theme of seventy-seventh session of the UN General Assembly is "A watershed moment: transformative solutions to interlocking challenges."

She is likely to highlight Bangladesh's impressive economic growth, government's efforts in the area of health, education and technology, Momen said.

Bangladesh's strong position in peacekeeping operations to ensure international peace and security, Bangladesh's 'zero tolerance' policy on terrorism and violent extremism, sustainable management of marine resources, safe migration and ensuring access to basic services for migrants, climate change and its impacts, establishment of climate justice, and issues related to Palestine might come up in her speech, Momen said.

PM will attend a high-level discussion on the sidelines of the 77th UN General Assembly in New York on September 22 apart from her other engagements at the UNGA.

"We will raise the issue strongly," the Foreign Minister said.

There will be another programme on sustainable housing on the UNGA sidelines on September 21.

Bangladesh will actively participate in all the events at the UNGA.

Referring to sanctions following the situation in Ukraine, Momen said any decision should be taken in consultation with all so that people in the world do not suffer.

PM Hasina will join the opening session of the UNGA debate on September 20 and will address the 77th UN general assembly on September 23 (between 4:30pm and 5:30pm local time) at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

While in New York, she will also hold talks with a number of leaders and attend different high-level events from September 20 to 24.

On September 20, Hasina is scheduled to attend a reception to be hosted by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, the opening session of 77th UNGA debate, a reception to be hosted by US president Joe Biden and an event titled 'the UNGA Platform of Women Leaders.'

She will have separate meetings with Slovenian President Borut Pahor and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee Filippo Grandi on the same day.

On September 21, the PM will join a high-level event on sustainable housing (which will be co-hosted by Bangladesh, Botswana, Slovak Republic and UN Habitat) and Global Crisis Response Group (GCRG) Champions' Meeting, and open a photo exhibition on Padma Bridge at the UNHQs.

She will have separate bilateral meetings with Kosovo President Dr Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu and Ecuador President Guillermo Lasso Mendoza on the same day.

Besides, WEF Executive Director Professor Schwab Klaus and UN Under-Secretary-General (USG, OHRLLS) Rabab Fatima will separately pay courtesy calls on Sheikh Hasina on September 21.

On September 22, the Bangladesh premier is scheduled to join a breakfast meeting on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), high-level event on Rohingya issue and a high level policy roundtable with the US-Bangladesh joint business council.

She will have a bilateral meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and two separate meetings with IOM Director General Antonio Vitorino, and ICC prosecutors Nick Klegg and Karim Khan on the same day.

Besides, she will join a civic reception accorded to her by expatriate Bangladeshis on September 24.

Momen said Bangladesh will highlight the priority issues in line with its national at the UNGA, noting that food and fuel crisis has been created due to the Covid-19 pandemic and various conflict situations in the world.

The increase in the fuel price has led to high inflation in various countries. Due to this new crisis, especially developing countries will have to face difficulties in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, he said.

Due to these reasons, issues such as Covid-19 management, climate change, Rohingya crisis as well as food and energy security, multilateralism, sustainable housing, building safe, reliable and inclusive digital infrastructure will dominate the discussion in the UNGA.

A photo exhibition on Padma Multipurpose Bridge will also be held at the UN headquarters.

The Prime Minister will stay at Washington DC from September 25 to October 1 after attending the UNGA in New York.

She will leave New York for Washington DC and will stay there till October 2.

PM Hasina is scheduled to return home in the early hours of October 4 after a short stopover in London on her way from Washington.

PM lands in London

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday reached London en route to New York to attend the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

She will leave London for New York immediately after joining the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on September 19.

A VVIP chartered flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, carrying the premier and her entourage, landed at London Stansted International Airport at 5 pm local time. Bangladesh High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Saida Muna Tasneem received her at the airport.

PM's younger sister Sheikh Rehana and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam were present.

During her stay in the UK, Secretary General of Commonwealth Patricia Scotland, UK Minister for South Asia and North Africa Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, leader of the Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer will also pay courtesy calls on her separately.

Besides, the Bangladesh PM will attend a reception to be hosted by the British King at Buckingham Palace for heads of states.

PM Hasina will attend the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in London on September 19, said Momen.

The Queen's coffin will be taken in a procession to Westminster Abbey for the state funeral on September 19 which will be a Bank Holiday in the UK.

World leaders and dignitaries have been paying tribute to the Queen, who died on Thursday at the age of 96.