Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has concluded a five-day visit to New York for the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, where he presented his government’s priorities on democracy, economic development, global peace, climate change and the Rohingya refugee crisis.

Rahman left New York late on September 25 and was scheduled to travel to Dhaka through Dubai. His visit included his first address to the UN General Assembly as Bangladesh’s prime minister, along with a series of bilateral meetings and diplomatic engagements.

During his UNGA speech, Rahman said Bangladesh wanted international disputes to be addressed through dialogue, diplomacy and cooperation. He also highlighted the economic consequences of armed conflicts, including pressure on energy supplies, global trade and inflation.

The prime minister presented what his government calls a “3-R” strategy — Recovery, Restoration and Reconstruction — for rebuilding Bangladesh. He said the administration was focusing on strengthening democratic institutions, expanding economic opportunities and developing the country’s workforce.

Economic development was an important component of the visit. Bangladesh sought international support for financing, technology transfer, market access and capacity building as it works toward becoming a manufacturing hub and prepares for its eventual graduation from the least-developed-country category.

Rahman also held discussions with representatives of several governments and international organisations. According to Bangladesh’s government, his delegation conducted around 30 formal programmes, including bilateral meetings involving 11 countries. Discussions covered trade, investment, energy security, skilled manpower, healthcare, climate change, regional cooperation and global peace.

Among the leaders he met was Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Their discussions included expanding trade and investment and increasing cooperation in economic sectors. Rahman also met Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic to discuss trade, investment, education, technology and skilled employment.

The Rohingya crisis remained another major issue during the visit. Bangladesh hosts more than one million Rohingya refugees who fled Myanmar. Rahman told the UN that safe and dignified voluntary repatriation to Myanmar remains his government’s stated objective and called for stronger international efforts to create conditions for their eventual return.

He also discussed the issue with UN officials during meetings on the sidelines of the General Assembly.

Climate change was another major theme. Bangladesh, one of the countries particularly exposed to climate-related risks, called for stronger international action on emissions reduction, adaptation financing and access to climate-related technology.

The prime minister also highlighted Bangladesh’s domestic development plans, including programmes involving clean energy, environmental protection and water management. His government has announced a five-year programme to plant 250 million trees and initiatives related to canals and water conservation.

The visit also produced an aviation-related development. Biman Bangladesh Airlines signed an agreement with Boeing involving the purchase of 11 aircraft as the country looks to expand its aviation capacity and international connectivity.

On the diplomatic front, Rahman reaffirmed Bangladesh’s support for multilateralism and the United Nations. He said international cooperation should be based on respect for sovereignty, equality and mutual interests.

His return to Bangladesh now shifts attention toward implementation of the government’s domestic agenda. The administration has emphasised economic recovery, employment creation, democratic institutions and investment as major priorities.

The UN visit also provided the new government with an opportunity to present its foreign-policy priorities to international partners and seek greater cooperation on economic, humanitarian and climate-related issues.

For Bangladesh, the next phase will involve translating the commitments outlined during the UNGA visit into domestic policies and international partnerships. The government will also continue facing the long-running Rohingya crisis and the challenge of maintaining economic growth while managing development and climate pressures.

The prime minister’s five-day trip has therefore combined diplomatic engagement with efforts to present Bangladesh’s political and economic priorities to the international community.