Rome, Feb 12– Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived at Rome on Sunday on a four-day official visit to Italy to join the upcomingvisit to Italy to join the upcoming meeting of the Rome-based International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) as one of its keynote speakers at the invitation of IFAD President Gilbert F Houngbo.An Emirates flight carrying the Prime Minister and her entourage reached at Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport at 6:50pm local time (BST 11:50am) via Dubai.
Bangladesh ambassador to Italy Abdus Sobhan Sikder and IFAD vice President Claudia Richter received the Prime Minister at the airport.
Sheikh Hasina and her entourage on Sunday 10:05am left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for Italy. When she reached at Dubai International Airport for a 90-minute stopover there, Bangladesh ambassador to UAE Muhammad Imran received her.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury and Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali are accompanying the Prime Minister.
Sheikh Hasina will present the keynote paper at the meeting on Tuesday (Feb 13).
During her visit, she will be staying at the Parco Dei Principi Grand Hotel in Rome.
On Monday morning, the Prime Minister will go to the Vatican City where she will be given an audience with Pope Francis, following a guard of honour.
She will also have a meeting with Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and visit the Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter’s Basilica.
In the evening, Hasina will join dinner to be hosted by the Bangladesh Ambassador in Rome.
On Tuesday (Feb 13), the Prime Minister will attend the inaugural session of the Governing Council of IFAD and deliver her keynote paper.
Later, she will attend lunch to be hosted by IFAD President in honour of keynote speakers.
In the evening, she will join a community reception arranged by the local unit of Awami League.
The theme of this year’s IFAD council is ‘From fragility to long-term resilience: Investing in sustainable rural economies.’
The governing Council of IFAD is the Fund’s principal Governing Body having full decision-making powers.
It consists of all the IFAD Member States and meets annually. It is attended by the official Member State representatives. Observers are also invited to attend sessions.
IFAD has more than 30 years of experience working in Bangladesh.
The Prime Minister will return home on February 16. – UNB
