Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrives here on Wednesday on a three-day official visit to advance the ‘special relations’ with Bangladesh.
A special flight carrying Abbas and his entourage is scheduled to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 5pm, said a senior official on Tuesday.
The visit is taking place at the invitation of President Abdul Hamid who will receive Abbas on his arrival at the VVIP terminal of the airport amid a 21-gun salute.
The government will show the highest level of respect to the Palestinian President.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Dr Reyad Al Malki, Chief Justice of Palestine and the Minister of Religious Affairs Mahmoud al-Habbas, Palestinian Authority Spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh, Majdi al-Khalidi and senior military and civil officials will accompany the Palestinian President during the visit.
Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali will meet Palestinian President Abbas at his hotel at 7pm on Wednesday, according to his programme schedule.
Abbas will visit Savar National Martyr’s Monument and pay respect to the martyrs of the Liberation War at 1:50pm to 2:10pm on Thursday. He will plant a sapling and sign the visitors’ book there.
Then he will visit Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi from 2:50pm to 3:15pm on Thursday.
President Abbas will have official talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Prime Minister’s Office from 15:45pm to 4:30pm on the same day before having one-to-one meeting for 15 minutes.
Both sides will discuss bilateral, regional and international issues at the meetings. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on formation of a joint commission at foreign minister level is likely to be signed, Foreign Ministry officials said.
President Abbas will sign visitors’ book at the PMO, too.
Opposition Leader in Parliament Raushan Ershad will meet President Abbas at his hotel on Thursday afternoon.
President Abbas who had made a stopover in Dhaka in February last year will meet his Bangladesh counterpart Abdul Hamid at 7pm on Thursday at Bangabhaban.
He will attend banquet preceded by cultural programme hosted by President Hamid in honour of the Palestinian President.
The Palestinian President will sign the visitors’ book at the Bangabhaban.
President Abbas will leave Dhaka at 2pm on February 3. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will see him off at the airport.
Bangladesh supports Palestinian people for their struggle for an independent homeland, especially the capital — the holy city of Jerusalem — and it remains always vocal at the UN, OIC, NAM over Palestinian issues.
source:UNB
