Prime Minister Tarique Rahman met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, folding Middle East diplomacy into a packed schedule of engagements during his first UNGA visit as head of government.
Focus on Regional Conflict and Bangladeshi Workers
The meeting centered on the ongoing Middle East conflict and its potential fallout for Bangladesh, particularly the large number of Bangladeshi expatriates working across the region. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir and Prime Minister’s Adviser Mahdi Amin briefed journalists afterward at the Hyatt Grand Central hotel in New York.
“The Prime Minister called for an early resolution of the conflict through diplomacy, stressing its potential impact on Bangladesh, particularly on Bangladeshi expatriate workers and the country’s energy security,” Kobir told reporters.
Officials noted that any prolonged instability in the Middle East could disrupt both the livelihoods of Bangladeshi workers abroad and the flow of remittances that support the domestic economy.
Seeking Iran’s Cooperation on Shipping Routes
Beyond the conflict itself, Rahman also sought Iran’s cooperation on a more practical matter: the movement of Bangladeshi vessels and containers through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping corridor that has come under pressure amid regional tensions.
- Discussed de-escalation of the Middle East conflict through diplomatic channels
- Raised safety concerns for Bangladeshi expatriate workers in the region
- Requested Iran’s support for the smooth passage of Bangladeshi vessels and containers through the Strait of Hormuz
- Flagged energy security as a direct concern for Bangladesh
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Part of a Packed Diplomatic Schedule
The Iran meeting was one of several bilateral engagements for Rahman during his UNGA trip. He also met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, held talks with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi and UN Special Envoy on Myanmar Julie Bishop over the Rohingya crisis, and met representatives from Bhutan, the Maldives, and Haiti. According to PMO Spokesperson Mahdi Amin, Rahman attended 10 of 12 scheduled programmes on his first day alone.
Wider Context
Rahman’s outreach to Tehran comes as his government navigates a delicate balancing act in the Middle East, an issue analysts have flagged as an early test of Bangladesh’s foreign policy under his leadership. The Iran meeting signals Dhaka’s attempt to protect its economic and labour interests in the region while avoiding overt alignment with any single bloc.
