PM Tarique May Meet Trump During New York Visit

Foreign Affairs State Minister Humayun Kabir has said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will travel to the United Nations with a message of a new Bangladesh and may meet US President Donald Trump during his visit to New York.

He made the remarks while speaking to television journalists at a hotel in Sylhet city on Saturday morning.

The state minister said the date for the prime minister’s visit to India has not yet been finalised, adding that discussions are underway.

Despite having several issues with India, Bangladesh’s doors for dialogue remain open, Kabir said. As neighbouring countries, Bangladesh and India should maintain good relations, he added.

Speaking about the energy sector, the state minister criticised corruption under the previous government and said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is giving the sector the highest priority. He said the government is working sincerely to resolve the country’s energy crisis.

On the Makkah agreement, Kabir said discussions are ongoing and that there is nothing unusual about Bangladesh joining the agreement. He noted that many countries now belong to multiple security alliances.

“Wherever we need to go based on the national interest, we will go there,” he said.

Regarding the purchase of Boeing aircraft from the United States, Kabir said no one was forcing Bangladesh to buy Boeing planes. He said the purchases were being made based on demand and that more aircraft could be bought if necessary.

The state minister also said a syndicate during the Awami League government had negatively affected the export of Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia. He claimed the current government had dismantled the syndicate and would resume manpower exports to Malaysia gradually.

MP Emran Ahmed Chowdhury and BNP Central Organising Secretary Miftah Siddiqui were present during the programme.