Foreign Affairs State Minister-1 Humayun Kabir has said there is no possibility of a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and US President Donald Trump during the prime minister’s visit to the United States.

Responding to questions from journalists, Kabir said the prime minister’s sideline meetings during the UN General Assembly would prioritise Bangladesh’s national interests.

“This visit is primarily for the prime minister to attend the UN General Assembly,” he said.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman left Dhaka on September 21 to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. He is currently in the United States, accompanied by his wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman. During the visit, the prime minister is scheduled to hold more than a dozen bilateral, multilateral and courtesy meetings.

The prime minister arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York at 6:20pm local time on Monday (September 21). He was received by Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Irene Zubaida Khan, and Bangladesh’s Ambassador to the United States, Tariq Mohammad Ariful Islam.

He was later taken to the Hyatt Grand Central New York hotel in a motorcade from the airport.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to deliver his address at the 81st UN General Assembly at around 3:30am Bangladesh time on Thursday (September 24).