Bangladesh Prime Minister's Foreign Visits

[eastwatch]

PM ARRIVES IN SWEDEN
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Stockholm

The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, who is leading a high-level Bangladesh delegation to attend European Develop-ment Day 2009 programme, reached there at 6:40am local time Wednesday.

On her arrival at Stockholm Arlanda Interna-tional Airport, she was recei-ved by ambassador and Marshal of diplomatic corps of Sweden, Johan Nordenfelt, and the Bangladesh ambassador to Sweden, Imtiaz Ahmed.

Later, she was taken to Grand Hotel, where she will be staying during her visit to Sweden, by a ceremonial motorcade.

Earlier, on her way to Sweden via Doha, the PM was received by the chief of protocol of Qatar, Al-Qader, and the Bangladesh ambassador in Doha, Shahdat Hossain, at Doha Internation-al Airport last night.

Besides, braving chilly weather, leaders of All European Awami League and its front organisations gathered on the hotel premises to welcome their beloved leader in Sweden.

Offering bouquets and showering petals, they greeted Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League president, as she reached the hotel this morning.

The All European AL leader Anil Das, Vienna AL leader Nazrul Islam, German AL leader Hasnat Mia and Sweden AL leader Jahangir Kabir were among the expatriate Awami League leaders.

Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka for Swedish capital Stockholm to attend the European Development Day 2009, a flagship event that showcases the EU continuing and enduring commitment to development last night.

Besides, some 4,000 people comprising heads of state or government, leading world figures including Nobel Prize winners from 125 countries are expected to attend the European Day programmes this year.

 

[eastwatch]

PM MAY VISIT CHINA EARLY NEXT YEAR
A reporting from the daily Ittefaq

The Daily Ittefaq - October 22, 2009

 

[eastwatch]

South Asian Media Net

SWEDEN RESPONDS TO HASINA'S CLIMATE PLEA
Friday, October 23,2009

STOCKHOLM: Sweden would propose an adaptation fund of 5-7 billion Euros in the upcoming Copenhagen climate change conference in aid to climate victim nations including Bangladesh.

Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt gave the assurance to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina when she sought assistance from the international communities in tackling the global warming issues.

Fredrik Reinfeldt and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso highly praised Sheikh Hasina's leadership in facing the challenges of climate change.

The European leaders made the appreciation and pledge when Sheikh Hasina had bilateral talks with them on the sidelines of the 4th edition of the European Development Days being celebrated in the Swedish capital.

Sheikh Hasina also had bilateral meetings with Speaker of the Swedish Parliament Per Westerberg and a group of MPs at Riksdag, the parliament house, Swedish Minister for International Development Gunilla Carlsson and Communications Minister of Morocco Khalid Naciri.

Prime Minister's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad briefed newsmen after the meeting.

During the meeting with her Swedish counterpart, Sheikh Hasina said some two crore people of Bangladesh would directly be harmed by the natural hazards stemming from climate change.

“A huge number of people will have to be replaced to protect them from the natural calamities,” she said.

Fredrik said Sheikh Hasina in the World Climate Conference-3, Geneva, and the UN General Assembly Session, 2009 had successfully identified the climate risks and showed the global community the ways of facing the challenges.

“You have proved yourself as a global leader by your strong leadership,” he said.

During the meeting with Manuel Barroso, she sought more European supports in the development fields of Bangladesh.

She thanked the European nations for their assistance and support in holding the December 29 parliamentary elections last year.

Sheikh Hasina invited them to visit Bangladesh at the time of their convenience.

At her meeting with the Swedish Parliament Speaker, Sheikh Hasina expressed her strong commitment to strengthen further the parliamentary democracy in the country.

State Minister for Forest and Environment Hasan Mahmud, Ambassador Ziauddin and Bangladesh Ambassador in Sweden Imtiaz Ahmed were also present during the meetings.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Hasina was scheduled to attend later yesterday a dinner hosted by the Swedish prime minister at Stockholm Town Hall.

 

[TopCat]

PM MAY VISIT CHINA EARLY NEXT YEAR
A reporting from the daily Ittefaq

The Daily Ittefaq - October 22, 2009

Good move. Our inapt foreign minister is getting to learn diplomacy now.

 

[eastwatch]

PM talks dev, climate issues with Bhutan's king

PM talks dev, climate issues with Bhutan's king

ThimphuKing of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck sought Bangladesh’s support for hosting the 16th summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had an audience with the monarch discussing ways of bolstering bilateral cooperation.

The king of the landlocked Himalayan kingdom--now in the process of democratic transition--sought the support when the visiting prime minister met him at his office, Tashichodzong, on Saturday morning amidst royal ceremonies.

He also sought Bangladesh’s cooperation in expediting socio-economic development of Bhutan.

Regarding the SAARC summit, Prime Minister Hasina assured the king of providing all possible supports to Bhutan for holding the annual conference of the regional grouping, said Deputy Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Nazrul Islam.

About the socio-economic issues, Hasina said her government would always stand by Bhutan for helping it in attaining the development targets.

The PM arrived at the king’s office in a ceremonial motorcade led by a colourful traditional Bhutanese procession known as ‘Chhipdrel’ at 9:20am (local time).

The ceremonial march started from the South Gate of Tashichhodzong royal office. On her arrival at the South Gate, Sheikh Hasina and her delegation were received by Dzongda (governor) of Thimphu Lhab Dorji and senior government officials.

Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, Industries Minister Dilip Barua, Commerce Minister Faruk Khan, Adviser to the prime minister HT Imam and Principal Secretary to the prime minister MA Karim, among others, accompanied the prime minister at the ceremonies.

Several hundred Bhutanese males and females from various cultural groups of the country, wearing different types of colourful dresses depicting Bhutanese traditions, joined the reception pageantry.

The participants in the procession danced and sang to the tunes of flutes, drums and many other traditional musical instruments.

At the main entrance of the King’s office, Hasina was received by the ADC to the King, senior government officials and Bhutan’s Chief of Protocol.

The Bangladesh prime minister was then escorted to the South Court of the king’s office premises and accorded a guard honour as national anthems of the two nations were played.

Standing on a podium, Hasina received salute of the Bhutanese Royal Army. Later, she inspected the guards.

After the royal reception, the Bangladesh prime minister was then escorted to the king’s chamber where she had the audience with King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.

On the occasion of Hasina’s meet with the Bhutanese king, the whole of the city was decorated with big ceremonial arches as well as banners and festoons, and national flags of the two friendly countries.

Hundreds of students, standing in queues, welcomed the prime minister on her way to the king’s place from her hotel lodge.

The deputy press secretary said during the hour-long meeting, the Bangladesh prime minister and the Bhutanese king talked various issues of bilateral development, culture and history in a very “cordial manner”.

Sheikh Hasina through the present king thanked his father, former king Jigme Singye Wangchuck, for voluntarily introducing democracy in the kingdom.

The Bangladesh prime minister and the Bhutanese king also shared climate woes, as both the countries are victims of the fallout of global warming caused by excessive carbon emissions from the developed countries.

Hasina reiterated her call for closer fraternity among the South Asian countries to face the challenges of climate change and poverty alleviation.

She said, “Bhutan, like Bangladesh, is going to be the worst sufferer of the global warming as glaciers in the Himalayas continued to melt down.”

In this context, the Bhutanese king said there are 4,000 glacier lakes in Bhutan, of which 24 are now in a very dangerous situation as, due to impact of the glacier melting, these can burst anytime and cause serious casualties of life and property.

Meanwhile, Economic Affairs Minister of Bhutan Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk paid a courtesy call on Hasina at her hotel suite. During the meeting, the prime minister laid emphasis on enhancing the bilateral trade volume for economic development of the two peoples.

Hasina also told the minister as Bangladesh and Bhutan enjoy trade interaction, if Bhutan wants, Bangladesh can open branch of its any public or private bank here in Thimphu.

Later, the premier and her delegation attended a royal lunch at Dechenchholingn Palace, the place of residence of the Bhutanese king.

Sheikh Hasina and the delegation, before the lunch, enjoyed a cultural programme where artistes of the Royal Academy of Performing Arts presented various traditional dances, including Jenpa Legso, Garuda and Nga Cham.

 

[TopCat]

This visit is very significant. Bhutan is the first country who recognized BD in 1971 and they had diplomatic relationship only with two countries for a long long time and one of them was Bangladesh.
Two buddhist monk accompanied Hasina in this visit which is just a reminder of Bhutanis buddhist link with Bengal. I wish her all the success there.

 

[mijanur]

i heard that she is going to india aswell

 

[eastwatch]

i heard that she is going to india as well.

As far as I know, the date of her India visit has not yet been finalized. After India, she is supposed to visit China as well.

 

[TopCat]

As far as I know, the date of her India visit has not yet been finalized. After India, she is supposed to visit China as well.

Bhutan visit is the preparation for India visit. She will press hard India for Bhutan connectivity as well as equity investment in Bhutan's hydro electric projects.

 

[TopCat]

Bhutan hails PM's proposal for cross border road link

THIMPHU, Nov 7 (UNB): Prime Minister of Bhutan Jigme Y Thinley welcomed Bangladesh premier Sheikh Hasina's suggestion for introducing bilateral road communications between the two neighbouring countries as Dhaka and Thimphu moved to enhance the two-way trade under a renewed deal.

"We will be happy if we can set up land communications with Bangladesh," the host Prime Minister said when Sheikh Hasina met him at his office Gyalong Tshokhang in the Bhutanese capital on Saturday afternoon and the two sides held extensive talks on cooperation.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh renewed its bilateral trade agreement with Bhutan Saturday for the next five years under which Bhutan will get duty-free access of 18 new products

to Bangladesh, mainly fruits and vegetables.

Commerce Minister Faruk Khan and Bhutanese Economic Affairs Minister Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk signed the agreement in the presence of the two premiers at the Bhutanese Prime Minister's Office.

Sheikh Hasina in her meeting with her Bhutanese counterpart proposed that Bangladesh and Bhutan introduce cross-border road communications through three points-Burimari Port (Lalmonirhat), Tamabil (Sylhet) and Naoka (Sherpur) -- to enhance bilateral trade and people-to-people contact between the two close neighbours.

Briefing reporters after the meeting Deputy Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Nazrul Islam said Sheikh Hasina also told the Bhutanese Prime Minister that her government is modernising Mongla seaport and other ports of the country which Bhutan could use for the landlocked country's external trade.

"Bhutan can use the Mongla port, which will help in boosting bilateral trade and economy of the two countries," Prime Minister Hasina said.

She declared at the meeting that the planned Rangamati University will be built in the light of Bhutanese architectures.
The two Prime Ministers also discussed a wide range of other issues, including ways of enhancing the bilateral trade and business and jointly facing the risks of climate change.

At the very outset of the talks, Thinley Wangchuk congratulated Hasina on the Bangladesh Awami League-led Grand Alliance's landslide victory at the last parliamentary polls.

The Bhutanese Prime Minister thanked Hasina for her strong role in the international forums regarding arranging funds for the climate-victim countries, including Bangladesh and Bhutan, to tackle the daunting challenges stemming from the global climate change.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh and Bhutan both are now at serious risk of natural disasters following the climate-change impacts on the globe.

She said, "The gradual melting of the Himalayan glaciers will first harm Bhutan and then Bangladesh as sea level is rising at an alarming rate."

The two heads of government agreed that all the South Asian countries need to work in unison for poverty alleviation and protecting people from the climate threats.

Sheikh Hasina, during the meeting, invited the Bhutanese Prime Minister to visit Bangladesh. The Bhutanese PM accepted the invitation.

Minister expressed his gratitude to the government of Bangladesh for allowing tariff-free access of more Bhutanese products to Bangladesh. Later at the trade agreement-signing ceremony, the Bhutanese Prime

He said, "The farmers of Bhutan will be significantly benefited by the tariff-free access of 18 more products to Bangladesh market."

The Bhutanese Prime Minister recognized that Bangladesh has been making outstanding contribution to the development progress of Bhutan for years.

Under the renewed trade agreement, Tamabil of Bangladesh has been introduced as a new entry and exit point for Bhutan in the protocol to the trade agreement.

Besides, the number of products has been increased to 90 from the previous 74 for trading between Bangladesh and Bhutan.

The trade agreement was first signed in 1980 for ten years and extended for another 10 years automatically as per provision of the deal that means the validity was up to 2000. The trade agreement was signed again in 2003 for five years.

 

[TopCat]

We need to provide more scholarship to the Bhutanis students and could offer reserve seat in Rangamati university for them. Also I love to see all those Bhutanis fruits in Dhaka's street.

 

[EjazR]

Hasina in Bhutan, to sign bilateral trade deal

Thimphu, Nov 7 (PTI) On her maiden visit to the south Asian region since she was elected last December, Bangladesh Premier Sheikh Hasina is in Bhutan to sign a bilateral trade pact between the two countries.

Hasina arrived here yesterday at the invitation of her Bhutanese counterpart Jigme Y Thinley.

She is leading a 48-member delegation comprising Cabinet ministers and senior officials.

During her four-day visit, she will hold discussions with King Jigme Khesar Namgyal.

Bhutan and Bangladesh enjoy good trade relations and the two countries have seen a substantial increase in trade in the past 19 years. In 2008, the value of trade between the two countries was recorded at Nu 755.96m, the highest till date.

"Bangladesh is an important trading partner for Bhutan after India and over the years, both export and import saw an increasing trend," said a Bhutan foreign ministry spokesperson.

 

[eastwatch]

PM readies for India :: Bangladesh :: bdnews24.com ::

PM readies for India
Wed, Nov 11th, 2009 12:25 am BdST

Dhaka, Nov 10 (bdnews24.com) – Prime minister Sheikh Hasina met with senior cabinet members Tuesday to identify strategic issues ahead of her visit to India next month.

The meeting at her office also raised specific projects, including new cross border rail and submarine cable links, to be placed before the Indian government.

Directing her ministries to prepare strategic papers "as a measure to step up bilateral and regional cooperation", she highlighted several potential areas of discussion with India.

These included roads and highways, proper use of rivers, uses of media and telecommunications, power, environment, agriculture, education, tourism and maritime boundary, the prime minister's deputy press secretary Nazrul Islam said after the meeting.

Hasina also sought a final list of Bangladesh products for possible tariff-free access to the Indian market, to even the trade imbalance.

She instructed the concerned ministries to finalise specific project proposals 'on a priority basis', said Islam.

These included a new cross border Agartala-Akhaura rail link, a Khulna-Chennai alternative submarine cable link and bridge construction on the Karnafuli river at Kalurghat in Chittagong, he said.

Finance minister AMA Muhith, agriculture minister Matia Chowdhury, water resources minister Ramesh Chandra Sen, commerce minister Faruque Khan, communications minister Abul Hossain and shipping minister Shahjahan Khan were among those present at the meeting of the committee on regional and sub-regional cooperation.

Islam said, "The prime minister called poverty the biggest problem of the region and said neighbouring countries should make all concerted efforts to fight it."

 

[TopCat]

Indian foreign secretary arrives Saturday

Dhaka, Nov 12 (bdnews24.com)—India's foreign secretary Nirupama Rao arrives Saturday on a two-day visit to Bangladesh, foreign secretary Mohamed Mijarul Quayes has said.

Rao was coming to prepare the ground for prime minister Sheikh Hasina's India visit from Dec 19, Quayes told bdnews24.com at his office Thursday.

The foreign secretary said his Indian counterpart would meet the prime minister, and foreign minister during her visit.

A spokesperson of the foreign minister's external publicity wing told bdnews24.com Thursday that Rao would also meet leader of the opposition Khaleda Zia.

Indian foreign secretary arrives Saturday :: Bangladesh :: bdnews24.com ::

 

[TopCat]

Seems like PM going to sign some important treaty in that visit.