PM flies to Morocco today to join COP-22

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina leaves here for Marrakech of Morocco today on a three-day official visit to attend two high-level segments of the 22nd Conference of the Parties (COP-22) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), officials said here yesterday. 

Foreign ministry officials said a VVIP flight (BG-1019) of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the premier and her entourage members will depart Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport here for Marrakech, a former imperial city in western Morocco, at 10 am.

The flight is scheduled to land at Menara Airport in Marrakech at 4.30 pm local time the same day and on arrival, a ceremonial motorcade would escort her to Hotel La Mamounia where she will be staying during her visit to Morocco.

On Tuesday, the Bangladesh prime minister will attend the opening session of the High-level Segment of COP-22 at Plenary Hall at Bab Ighli, the COP-22 Conference Venue, in Marrakech from 10am-1pm. 

Earlier, King of Morocco Mohammed VI, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and UNFCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa are expected to receive the Bangladesh prime minister along with other heads of state and government at Bab lghli. 

Sheikh Hasina will deliver her statement at the joint high-level segment of COP-22, the 12th Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 12), and the 1st Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA 1) as the 49th speaker of the day in the afternoon. 

In her statement, the Bangladesh prime minister is expected to highlight Bangladesh's position to address the climate challenges and urge global leaders to intensify a campaign to advance the national and collective efforts to address this immense challenge. 

Along with other heads of state and government, the premier will attend a lunch to be hosted by King of Morocco Mohammed VI the same day.

Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to return home on November 16 night after concluding her three-day visit to Morocco. 

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Environment and Forest Minister Anwar Hossain Manju, Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud and Deputy Minister of Environment and Forest Abdullah Al Islam Jacob, among others, will accompany the prime minister during her visit to Morocco. 

COP-22, which began on November 7 and runs through November 18, is the first such meeting since the historic adoption of the Paris Agreement at COP-21 in December last year. 

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) entered into force in 1994, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. The Conference of the Parties (COP) was designated as the supreme governing body of the Convention. 

To date, 195 countries have submitted their instruments of ratification. These countries meet once a year, during two weeks, in order to evaluate the application of the Convention and develop the negotiation process between the Parties in front of new commitments.

Source: BSS