Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)– Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left in the capital, Dhaka for New York on Monday night to attend the U.N. General Assembly session.

A regular flight of Emirates Airlines carrying Sheikh Hasina and her entourage took off from Zia International Airport in Dhaka at about 10:52pm (local time), officials confirmed.

After a two-hour stay at Dubai international airport, the prime minister will fly for New York by another Emirates flight at 2:00 pm (local time) and is expected to reach New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport at 7:50am on September 22, according to scheduled.

During her nine-day busy schedule in New York, the prime minister will address the Plenary of the General Assembly on September 26 focusing on the adverse impact of climate change, world economic recession and transition to democracy in Bangladesh, they added.

Bangladesh is one of the countries with the worst exposure to extreme weather conditions caused by global warming, due largely to worldwide excessive carbon emissions, and seeks financial and technological assistance to adapt to the changing climate.

Apart from attending the programs of the UNGA session, Sheikh Hasina will attend a meeting of 25 selected heads of state and government on climate change. UN secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon has convened the meeting for September 22.

She will also have a meeting with US President Barack Obama on September 23 along with leaders of nine other top UN peacekeeper-contributing countries.

Besides, on the sidelines of the UNGA session, the Bangladesh prime minister will have significant bilateral talks with prime ministers of Denmark, Kenya and Nepal and the presidents of South Africa and Sri Lanka, local media reported.

Sheikh Hasina will leave for Washington DC on September 29 and later proceed to Doha, Qatar from Washington.

She is expected to return home on October 1.

BBN/SS/SI/AD-22September09-3:14 pm (BST)