PM Tarique arrives in Antalya to attend COP31 summit
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman arrived in Antalya this afternoon on a three-day official visit to Turkiye to attend the COP31 World Leaders' Summit, where he will address a plenary session and hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines.
"A Turkish Airlines flight carrying the prime minister, his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and other members of the entourage landed at Antalya Airport at 4:03pm local time," said PM's Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu.
At the airport, the Prime Minister was received by Dr. Serdar Çam, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye.
Later, he was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour on arrival at the Anatalya airport.
The Prime Minister and his entourage left Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 7:30am today and landed at Istanbul Airport at 12:40pm local time, where he was accorded a VVIP reception.
He was escorted with full honours to the State Guest House inside the airport and received by the Airport's Administrative Head and Governor Dr M. Ilker Haktankaçmaz.
After a stopover of nearly two hours, the prime minister left Istanbul for Antalya at 2:55pm on another Turkish Airlines flight.
He will hold his first bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at 6:30pm local time today at the Maxx Royal Hotel, according to his tour schedule and Foreign Ministry sources.
The two leaders are expected to discuss ways to boost bilateral trade and investment and expand cooperation in key sectors.
The summit will be held on November 11-12. The prime minister will deliver Bangladesh's statement at the plenary session on November 12, outlining the country's position on climate justice, the historical responsibility of developed countries, climate finance, adaptation, loss and damage, and climate-resilient sustainable development.
Bilateral meetings are also being arranged with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the British Foreign Secretary, while a meeting with the UNDP Administrator is being explored, newly appointed Foreign Secretary Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury told reporters in Dhaka on Monday.
He said the talks are expected to cover bilateral relations, trade and investment, and climate cooperation, and hoped they would open new opportunities to advance Bangladesh's economic and geopolitical interests.
Chowdhury noted that Bangladesh contributes only 0.05 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet remains among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. Securing climate justice, adaptation finance, action on loss and damage, and delivery of developed countries' climate finance commitments are therefore its foremost priorities, he said.
On compensation for climate-related losses and damage, he said Bangladesh presents estimates of its losses at international forums to raise awareness and mobilise cooperation. Though estimates vary, doing so helps advance the country's interests, he added.
Bangladesh will also showcase its achievements in climate resilience and share its experience of tackling climate impacts across South Asia and the wider Asian region. It has set up a jute pavilion in the conference's Green Zone to promote jute's diverse uses, environmental benefits and potential as an alternative to plastic. A joint declaration between Bangladesh and Turkiye on promoting jute and jute products is also envisaged.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will organise two side events in the Blue Zone on November 12 and 13. One will focus on women's particular vulnerability to climate change in Bangladesh, and the other on the challenges of promoting biodegradable, zero-waste jute products as alternatives to synthetic polymers.
Chowdhury said Bangladesh's positions were set through inter-ministerial discussions and consultations with stakeholders, coordinated by the Foreign Ministry with the Environment Ministry and other agencies. He expressed hope that participation under the prime minister's leadership would strengthen Bangladesh's standing in international climate diplomacy.
A 21-member delegation is accompanying the prime minister. Among them are Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo, State Ministers for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir and Shama Obaed Islam, Special Assistant to the PM on forest, environment and climate change Dr Md Saimum Parvez, PMO Principal Coordinator for SDG Affairs Professor Dr S M Abdul-Awal, Press Secretary AAM Saleh Shibli and Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu.
COP, or the Conference of the Parties, is the annual UN climate summit where countries discuss collective action on climate change. Turkiye is presiding over this year's conference, while Australia is chairing the formal negotiations.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to return home on Friday.
