Trump Dinner Photo Shows Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman With Wife Zubaida Together

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and his wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, attended a dinner hosted by US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for world leaders and their spouses during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. A photograph showing Tarique and Zubaida standing with Trump has now been released by the Prime Minister’s Office, bringing fresh attention to the Bangladeshi prime minister’s high-level engagements during his first UN General Assembly visit as prime minister.

The Prime Minister’s Office released the photograph on Saturday, October 3, 2026. Prime Minister’s Press Secretary AAM Saleh Shibly confirmed the authenticity of the photograph to The Daily Star and said it was obtained courtesy of the White House. The Daily Star also published the photograph with the credit identifying it as a White House photograph. 

The dinner itself took place on September 22 in New York, rather than at the White House in Washington. Bangladesh’s state news agency BSS reported that the dinner was held at the Lotte New York Palace hotel and was attended by heads of state and government participating in the UN General Assembly, along with their spouses. 

The newly released photograph shows Donald Trump standing alongside Tarique Rahman and Dr Zubaida Rahman. The image provides a visual record of the Bangladeshi prime minister’s participation in the diplomatic gathering during the UN’s high-level week.

According to reports from Bangladesh and international sources, Tarique Rahman arrived in New York on September 21 to participate in the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. He travelled with his wife and a high-level Bangladeshi delegation. BSS reported that he left Dhaka early on September 21 and reached John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York after a stopover in Istanbul. 

The Trump-hosted dinner was one of several high-level engagements involving the Bangladeshi prime minister during his visit. Earlier on September 22, Tarique Rahman and Zubaida Rahman attended a welcome breakfast hosted by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres for heads of state and government and their spouses. The breakfast was held at the North Delegates Lounge at UN Headquarters in New York. 

The dinner and breakfast were part of a busy diplomatic schedule surrounding the 81st UN General Assembly. The United Nations says the general debate of the 81st session ran from September 22 to September 26, with additional proceedings on September 28. The annual high-level week brings together heads of state, heads of government and senior representatives to discuss international political, economic, humanitarian and development issues. 

Tarique Rahman delivered his first address to the UN General Assembly as prime minister on September 24. He spoke in Bangla, following Bangladesh’s long-standing practice of using the country’s national language at the UN General Assembly. BSS reported that his speech addressed issues including global peace and security, sustainable development, climate change, economic cooperation and the Rohingya crisis. 

In his UN address, Tarique Rahman also called for international support for the safe return of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar. He said Bangladesh had been hosting more than 1.2 million forcibly displaced Rohingyas and argued that a lasting solution required their safe return to their homeland. 

The prime minister’s UN programme included several high-level meetings and side events. According to BSS, he participated in discussions on the Rohingya crisis, rising sea levels and the challenges faced by vulnerable coastal countries, climate action and a just transition, as well as the role of midwifery in primary healthcare. He also attended a meeting with representatives of Wall Street firms to discuss Bangladesh’s economy, investment opportunities and trade and financial-sector prospects. 

BSS reported that Tarique Rahman held meetings with the leaders of seven countries during the visit. Those included Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime, Bhutanese Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. 

Dr Zubaida Rahman also participated in activities involving spouses of world leaders. During the UN high-level week, First Lady Melania Trump continued her international initiative called “Fostering the Future Together,” which focuses on children, education, technology and online protection.