Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has made history by becoming the third member of his family to address the United Nations General Assembly. He delivered his first speech at the 81st session of the General Assembly’s general debate.

Delivered entirely in Bangla, the speech highlighted Bangladesh’s democratic transition and its priorities in international diplomacy, while presenting the aspirations of the country’s people on the global stage.

The address marked a rare chapter in the history of the UN General Assembly, as three members of the same family—father, mother and son—have now addressed the assembly as heads of state or government.

Continuing this family legacy, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman spoke in his mother tongue about the hopes and aspirations of millions of Bangladeshis, human rights, justice and democratic values.

Addressing the president of the UN General Assembly, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said, “Standing at this global forum today, I feel somewhat nostalgic. My father, the independence proclaimer of Bangladesh, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, and my mother, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, also stood on this very world stage and addressed the world on behalf of our country and its people. Today, I too stand here for the interests of my country and its people, with the hope of a peaceful world community.”

In his speech, the prime minister presented Bangladesh’s perspectives and priorities to the international community, with particular emphasis on climate change, global peace and security, sustainable development, economic cooperation, humanitarian issues and the Rohingya crisis.

Tarique Rahman’s address added a new chapter to his family’s more than four-decade association with the UN General Assembly.

His father, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, became the first member of the family to address the General Assembly, speaking at its 11th special session on August 26, 1980. In that speech, he highlighted the widening gap between rich and poor countries, poverty and hunger, economic development and the need for greater international cooperation.

Thirteen years later, on October 1, 1993, Khaleda Zia, the country’s first woman prime minister and Tarique Rahman’s mother, addressed the 48th session of the UN General Assembly.

According to UN records, Khaleda Zia addressed the General Assembly on several occasions between 1993 and 2005. She also spoke at a special meeting marking the 50th anniversary of the United Nations in 1995 and at several other UN special sessions and high-level meetings.

With Tarique Rahman’s address, a new chapter has been added to the more than four-decade history of the same family’s representation at the United Nations General Assembly.