Red carpet was rolled out when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived here Monday morning on a two-day official visit to Myanmar to attend the third Bimstec Summit.
The summit of the seven-nation regional body of South Asia and South East Asia will be held at the Myanmar International Conference Centre in the Myanmar capital of Nay Pyi Taw on Tuesday (Mar 4).
A flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the Prime Minister and her entourage that left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 8:00 am (Dhaka time) arrived here at about 10:15 am (Local time).Myanmar Union Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security Aye Myint and Bangladesh Ambassador to Myanmar Anup Kumar Chakma received the Prime Minister at the airport.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was given a guard of honour by a smartly-turned out contingent of Myanmar Armed Forces, while two tiny tots presented her bouquets.
After a warm reception at the airport, Hasina was taken in a ceremonial motorcade to Royal Nay Pyi Taw Hotel where she will be staying during her visit to Myanmar.
Schoolchildren standing on both sides of the 25-km road from the airport to the hotel greeted the Prime Minister waving miniature flags of the two countries.
Later, in the day, the Prime Minister will meet Myanmar President Thein Sein, Speaker Shwe Mann and National League for Democracy chairman Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
She will attend a gala dinner to be hosted by Myanmar President Thein Sein at the Myanmar International Convention Center II (MICCII).
On Tuesday, Hasina will join a group photo session and the opening ceremony where Myanmar President Thein Sein will deliver the address of welcome. A short video clip will be screened on the occasion, which will be followed by a cultural programme. Hasina might deliver a statement there.
The Prime Minister will witness the signing of MoAs, MoUs, proceed with the 3rd summit, and attend the closing of the summit, followed by a joint press conference for the heads of state and government.
Three instruments — Memorandum of Association (MoA) on the Establishment of Bimstec Permanent Secretariat in Dhaka; Memorandum of Association (MoA) on the Establishment of Bimstec Centre for Weather and Climate in India; and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Bimstec Culture Industries Commission and Bimstec Cultural Industries Observatory to be set up in Bhutan -– are expected to be signed during the summit.
On the sidelines of the Summit, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hold bilateral meetings with her counterparts of the Bimstec member-countries, including from India, Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan. – UNB
