The UN General Assembly offered Prime Minister Tarique Rahman an opportunity to transcend the country’s petty political factionalism and showcase Bangladesh as a nation capable of playing a leading role on the global stage.
While this opportunity arises annually, the political transformation following the 2024 uprising lent this particular session added significance for Bangladesh.
The question now arises: Did Prime Minister Tarique Rahman make the most of this opportunity? Or did he simply follow the conventional script -- extolling his own party, vilifying opponents, and delivering a bland, bureaucratic speech on geopolitical issues that carefully avoided taking a firm stand?
It became evident right at the start of the speech that the PM would not chart a new course.
Although the nation is 55 years old, he indulged in nostalgia, recalling only the speeches delivered from that very podium by his father, the late President Ziaur Rahman, and his mother, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.
He could also have acknowledged that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered the first-ever speech in Bangla from that same platform in 1974. Doing so would not have undermined his standing as the country’s elected representative.
Yet, no matter how grand the stage, the country’s narrow political climate leaves little room for such magnanimity.
Even when standing on the global stage, Bangladeshi leaders struggle to break free from the political divisions they leave behind at home. There have been precedents for this, and this instance was no exception.
The PM blamed the past, labelled his ousted political rivals “fascists,” and presented his party’s agenda as a blueprint for development.
It was expected that he would speak of the country’s return to the path of democracy, and it was hardly surprising that he praised the February election.
However, when the domestic practice of branding the ousted Awami League as “fascist” is exported to the global stage, it effectively amounts to painting a large segment of the nation’s population as the “enemy.”
It would have signalled a new kind of politics had he spoken solely of progress rather than portraying a fractured nation by assigning blame to others.
At one point in the speech, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman stated: “By ensuring the political and economic empowerment of the people, we aim to establish a prosperous, self-reliant, and democratic welfare state -- a nation where everyone, regardless of political affiliation, religion, or race, can live securely and safely with equal rights, honour, and dignity.”
There is no doubt that these words sound appealing to everyone.
However, it would hardly be surprising if these sentiments seemed hollow when certain party activists and supporters live in fear of arrest while facing fabricated charges, languish in prison for months without trial, or, branded as “accomplices” while being subjected to attacks, handed over to the police, and jailed on false accusations.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman touched upon several significant issues in his speech, including migration, the impact of climate change, artificial intelligence, the Rohingya crisis, the volatile global situation, and the UN’s development goals.
In each instance, the government’s programs or achievements were highlighted. In some areas, particularly regarding the avoidance of geopolitical conflict, he advocated peace efforts and disarmament.
These are standard topics in UN politics; statements made by developing nations on these matters are often heard by others but usually forgotten before they even leave UN headquarters.
However, it is worth examining how the PM’s own publicity team is attempting to present his speech to the nation.
While briefing journalists in New York, Mahdi Amin, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, described Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s address to the UN General Assembly as “historic and groundbreaking.”
One family, three speeches
Mahdi Amin stated that, through this speech, Bangladesh had “created a new history.”
What is this new history? Reading Amin’s remarks, it appears that he views the rare occurrence of three members of the same family addressing the UN as heads of government as the “historic” event.
It was not merely the family connection, however, but the glorification of the leader that appeared to be the government spokesperson’s primary focus.
“Through this speech, the world witnessed how a head of government transforms into a true statesman,” Amin said.
He reminded the nation that the PM did not confine himself to matters concerning Bangladesh alone, he also spoke about global peace and the rights of the freedom-seeking people of Palestine, and even offered counsel to the United Nations itself.
“He presented a concrete roadmap to world leaders on how the UN can play a robust role in restoring peace, prosperity, and unity across the globe,” Mahdi Amin said at a press conference.
There is no doubt that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s speech touched upon these issues.
However, there is room for disagreement over whether these remarks were truly “historic” or “statesmanlike.”
First, heads of government from Bangladesh have always spoken about Palestinian rights when addressing the UN.
Nor is this unique to Bangladesh; leaders from most nations speak of peace and prosperity and express a desire to see the UN play a stronger and more effective role.
These are standard talking points for developing nations at international conferences.
Second, one could not merely disagree with, but vehemently dispute, the spokesperson’s claim that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman “presented a concrete roadmap to world leaders” on how the UN could play a robust role.
Independence and sovereignty
While Prime Minister Tarique Rahman certainly spoke eloquently about the UN’s role and what is expected of it, can those remarks truly be described as a “roadmap?”
The prime minister was correct in stating that, in the era of globalization, conflict in one part of the world can trigger unrest and economic disaster elsewhere.
He spoke of establishing bilateral or multilateral relations among disputing states based on “equality, fairness, mutual interest, and respect for dignity,” points with which few would disagree.
“Bangladesh envisions the UN as the focal point for establishing a cooperative global society that respects each other’s independence and sovereignty,” the PM said in his speech.
These are all fine sentiments. But where is the “roadmap” for the UN here? A roadmap would typically contain specific proposals and outline concrete steps.
These remarks are undoubtedly significant, particularly in the context of post-2024 Bangladesh-India relations. However, such sentiments are not new on the global stage, and all too often remain nothing more than rhetoric once the speech concludes.
Had the prime minister wished, he could have presented concrete proposals for reforming the UN Security Council or addressing the crisis in development funding.
Regarding the Rohingya crisis, instead of merely seeking international cooperation, he could have offered specific proposals grounded in reality; he could even have announced unilateral measures to reinforce Bangladesh’s commitment to the disarmament process.
The speech would have been truly “historic” or “groundbreaking” had it put forward proposals aimed at playing a leading role in resolving problems rather than simply positioning the nation as a victim.
As it stands, however, it appears that the address amounted to little more than a routine bureaucratic exercise of reading from prepared talking points.
Sabir Mustafa is the former head of BBC Bangla and is currently working as a freelance journalist and podcaster. Views expressed are the author’s own.
