Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will leave Dhaka for New York, USA on Sunday (September 17) to attend the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

A VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the premier and her entourage members will depart from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 9:45am.

The flight is scheduled to land at the JKF International Airport, New York at 10:50pm (New York time) on September 17 after a four-hour stopover at the Heathrow Airport in London.

Bangladesh Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Muhammad Abdul Muhith and Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA Muhammad Imran will receive the prime minister at the airport.

During her stay in New York from September 17-22, the premier will attend the first day of the high-level General Debate of the 78th UNGA session at the General Assembly Hall of the UN Headquarters on September 19 while she will address it on September 22 between 1pm to 2pm local time.

Sheikh Hasina was also invited to join a dinner hosted by US President Joe Biden on September 19 as well.

On the sidelines of the UNGA session, she will also attend a number of high-level side events including Rohingya and climate change, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), universal health, and finance alongside taking part in several bilateral and courtesy meetings.

The world leaders will gather in New York for attending the 78th UNGA session under the theme, “Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and the sustainability for all.”

The prime minister is expected to deliver a keynote speech at a high level conference titled “Thought for Food -Collaborating for Food Supply Chain Innovation to accelerate the SDGs” organised by the UNIDO and Deloittte at Rockefeller Center, New York on September 18.

She will also address another conference titled “SDG Summit -Leaders’ Dialogue 4 (strengthening integrated policies and public institutions for achieving the SDGs) at the Trusteeship Council Chamber on the same day.