PM Tarique Rahman leaves for Turkey today to attend COP31 summit

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is leaving for Turkey today, Tuesday (November 10), to attend the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31). He will address the conference on November 12 during the three-day visit.

Newly appointed Foreign Secretary Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury shared the information at a press conference on Monday. He said the prime minister will be accompanied by his wife, Dr. Zubaida Rahman.

The delegation will also include the minister for environment, forest and climate change, two state ministers of the foreign ministry, and the prime minister's special assistant on environment, forest and climate change. Concerned government officials, journalists and other distinguished persons will also be part of the entourage.

The foreign secretary said work is under way to finalise the prime minister's other programmes alongside the conference. Bilateral meetings are possible with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the UK foreign minister. These meetings may discuss strengthening bilateral relations, expanding trade and investment, cooperation in tackling climate change, and various issues of mutual interest. Work is also under way on a possible meeting with the administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury said he hopes these programmes will create new opportunities to advance Bangladesh's economic and geopolitical interests.

Asked about the possibility of a courtesy meeting between the prime minister and the Turkish president, he said such a meeting is possible, where overall cooperation between the two countries could be discussed. The foreign secretary said both sides may discuss the broader relationship. However, he added that a courtesy meeting held on the sidelines of a multilateral conference is unlikely to finalise any specific project or agreement.

Asked about Turkish company Celebi's interest in providing ground handling services at the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, as an associate of Biman Bangladesh Airlines under a Japanese consortium, he said such a meeting is unlikely to discuss that specific proposal in detail.

On compensation for loss and damage caused by climate change, Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury said Bangladesh presents its own estimates of losses at international forums, so that awareness is created and international cooperation becomes easier to obtain. He said there are various estimates of the damage Bangladesh has suffered because of climate change. Bangladesh raises them in global discussions. Raising these issues at the international level creates awareness about Bangladesh's situation, which works in the country's favour.

The foreign secretary said that in the plenary session of the conference, the prime minister will present Bangladesh's position and expectations on climate justice, the historic responsibility of developed countries, climate finance, adaptation, tackling loss and damage, and climate-resilient sustainable development.

He said that although Bangladesh contributes only 0.05 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, it is one of the countries most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.

In this context, he noted that ensuring climate justice is one of Bangladesh's main priorities. Other priorities include financing for adaptation, tackling loss and damage, and ensuring effective implementation of the climate finance commitments made by developed countries.

At this conference, Bangladesh will highlight its achievements in attaining climate resilience and share its experience in tackling the effects of climate change in South Asia and the wider Asian region.

Bangladesh has also taken the initiative to set up a "Jute Pavilion" in the conference's "Green Zone". Through it, the multiple uses of jute, its environment-friendly features, and its potential as an alternative to plastic will be highlighted. The foreign secretary said there is also a plan to sign a joint declaration between Bangladesh and Turkey on the use and promotion of jute and jute products during the conference.

The foreign ministry will organise two side events in the "Blue Zone" on November 12 and 13. One of them will highlight the gender-based risks of climate change in Bangladesh. The other will discuss the possibility of increasing the use of environment-friendly and biodegradable jute products as an alternative to synthetic polymer-based products, and the various obstacles in this sector. Through these initiatives, Bangladesh wants to draw the attention of the international community to the special risks climate change creates for women, as well as highlight the importance of jute products in protecting the environment.

The foreign secretary said Turkey is chairing this year's conference, and Australia is serving as co-chair in the formal climate negotiation process.