Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has reached Antalya on a three-day official visit to Türkiye to attend the United Nations Climate Conference, known as the Conference of the Parties (COP31), officials said on Tuesday.
Leaders from across the globe are gathering in the Turkish city to work out the next course of action to save the planet from the dangerous effects of climate change.
The Bangladeshi Prime Minister will address a plenary session and hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines during his stay in Türkiye, PM's Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu said.
A Turkish Airlines flight carrying the Prime Minister, his wife Zubaida Rahman, and other members of the entourage landed at Antalya Airport on Tuesday afternoon local time.
Rahman was received at the airport by Türkiye's Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism M Serdar Çam. Two children presented Tarique Rahman and Zubaida Rahman with flowers.
The deputy press secretary said a smartly turned-out contingent at the airport accorded a guard of honour to the Prime Minister, who received the salute.
The Prime Minister and his entourage left Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the morning.
Upon arrival at Istanbul airport, the Prime Minister 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.
Tarique Rahman is scheduled to hold his first bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday evening at the Maxx Royal Hotel, according to his tour schedule.
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, state-run BSS news agency reported.
Bilateral meetings are also being arranged with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Uzbek 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.
On compensation for climate-related loss and damage, he said Bangladesh presents estimates of its losses at international forums to raise awareness and mobilize 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 diversified uses, environmental benefits, and its potential as an alternative to plastic. A joint declaration between Bangladesh and Türkiye on promoting jute and jute products is also envisaged.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will organize 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, while the other will focus on the challenges of promoting biodegradable, zero-waste jute products as alternatives to synthetic polymers.
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 Md Saimum Parvez; PMO Principal Coordinator for SDG Affairs Professor 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. Türkiye is presiding over this year's conference, while Australia is chairing the formal negotiations.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to return home on Friday.
