The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed leaves here for New York Saturday night to attend the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The Chief Adviser will be accompanied by his wife Neena Ahmed. The other members of the delegation during the Chief Adviser's visit include Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Secretary of the CA's Office Kazi M Aminul Islam and CA's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim.

Dr Fakhruddin will deliver the country statement at the UNGA session on September 26. This will be his second participation in the UN General Assembly as head of the caretaker government after assuming office on January 12 last year.

The Chief Adviser will have bilateral meetings with some heads of government and state as well as high dignitaries on the sidelines of the UNGA apart from meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

During a eight-day stay in New York, he will take part in a roundtable on Poverty and Hunger, attend opening segment of a high level event on the MDGs convened by the UN Secretary General and join a high level Plenary Meeting on Africa's Development Need; State of Implementation of various commitments, challenges and the way forward.

Dr Fakhruddin will attend a reception to be hosted by US President George Bush, welcome reception hosted by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-mon and Mrs Ban Ki-moon in honour of Heads of State and Heads of Government and join dinner hosted by the UN Secretary General.

He will attend Special Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting, have meetings with Bangladeshi community and Network of Young Bangladeshi American Professionals (NYSAP) and attend a MDG Reception.

Other programmes of the CA include a reception to be hosted by President of South Africa on the occasion of launching of African Legacy Programme of the 2010 FIFA World Cup to be held in South Africa and a high level discussion on the Food and Climate Change Crisis convened by the UN Secretary General.

The Chief Adviser will have an interview with TIME Magazine and BBC as well as interaction with local media.

Dr Fakhruddin is scheduled to return home on September 30.