Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will leave here tomorrow for Türkiye to attend the COP31 World Leaders' Summit, where he will address a plenary session and hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines.
The summit is scheduled to take place in Antalya on 11-12 November, with the Prime Minister set to deliver Bangladesh's statement at a plenary session on 12 November.
COP, officially known as the Conference of the Parties, is the annual United Nations climate summit where countries discuss collective action to address climate change.
Newly appointed Foreign Secretary Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury briefed reporters on preparations for the visit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today.
The Prime Minister will undertake the official visit from 10 to 12 November to lead the Bangladesh delegation.
His spouse Zubaida Rahman, the Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the two state ministers for foreign affairs, the Prime Minister's Special Assistant on Environment, Forest and Climate Change, relevant government officials, a media team and other distinguished individuals will accompany him.
The foreign secretary said arrangements for the Prime Minister's engagements on the sidelines of the summit were still being finalised.
Bilateral meetings are being arranged with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Australian Prime Minister, the President of Uzbekistan and the British Foreign Secretary.
A meeting with the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is also being explored.
The meetings are expected to cover strengthening bilateral relations, expanding trade and investment, cooperation in addressing climate change and other matters of mutual interest.
Chowdhury expressed the hope that these engagements would create new opportunities to advance Bangladesh's economic and geopolitical interests.
Responding to a question about a possible courtesy meeting between the Prime Minister and the Turkish President, he said there was a possibility of such an engagement, during which overall cooperation between the two countries would be discussed.
The two sides could discuss the broader relationship, but specific project arrangements were unlikely to be settled during a courtesy meeting on the sidelines of a multilateral conference, he said.
Asked about Turkish company Çelebi’s interest in providing ground handling services at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport's third terminal as a partner of Biman Bangladesh Airlines under the Japanese consortium, he said detailed discussions on that particular proposal were unlikely during such a meeting.
On compensation for climate-related losses and damage, Chowdhury said Bangladesh presents estimates of the damage it has suffered before international forums to raise awareness and mobilise cooperation.
He said there were various estimates of Bangladesh's climate-related losses, which the country highlights in global discussions.
Presenting these concerns internationally helps create awareness about Bangladesh's situation and works in the country's favour, he added.
Asked how much compensation Bangladesh had secured through the COP process, the foreign secretary said the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change would be able to provide the relevant information.
He also distinguished compensation from the broader assistance and cooperation Bangladesh receives through presenting its position in international forums.
In his plenary address, the Prime Minister will outline Bangladesh's position and expectations on climate justice, the historical responsibility of developed countries, climate finance, adaptation, addressing loss and damage, and climate-resilient sustainable development.
Chowdhury said Bangladesh contributes only 0.05 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet remains among the countries most vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change.
Against this backdrop, securing climate justice is one of Bangladesh's foremost priorities, he said.
Other priorities include adaptation finance, addressing loss and damage, and ensuring the effective implementation of developed countries' climate finance commitments.
At the summit, Bangladesh will highlight its achievements in climate resilience and share its experience in addressing climate impacts across South Asia and the wider Asian region.
Bangladesh has also taken an initiative to establish a jute pavilion in the conference's Green Zone to showcase jute's diverse uses, environmentally friendly characteristics and potential as an alternative to plastic.
A joint declaration between Bangladesh and Turkiye on the use and promotion of jute and jute products is also envisaged during the conference, the foreign secretary said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will organise two side events in the Blue Zone on 12 and 13 November.
One will focus on gender-based vulnerability in Bangladesh resulting from the adverse impacts of climate change, while the other will address the challenges of promoting environmentally friendly, biodegradable and zero-waste jute products.
The events will draw international attention to the particular risks women face because of climate change and the scope for expanding the use of jute products as alternatives to synthetic polymer-based products.
Chowdhury said Trkiye is presiding over this year's conference, while Australia is co-chairing the formal climate negotiation process.
He said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had coordinated with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and other relevant ministries and agencies to prepare for Bangladesh's participation.
The country's positions and priorities were determined through inter-ministerial discussions and consultations with stakeholders, he added.
The foreign secretary expressed the hope that Bangladesh's participation under the Prime Minister's leadership would strengthen its position in international climate diplomacy and provide an opportunity to showcase its efforts and achievements in building climate resilience.
Additional Foreign Secretary (Public Diplomacy and Other Priority Matters) AKM Shahidul Karim and senior ministry officials were present at the briefing.