Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to meet with Bangladeshi envoys stationed across Europe at a conference in London, UK on Saturday (Jul 20).
The premier went to London for the conference on Friday (Jul 19), on a VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines that left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 9:30am. Her flight landed at the Heathrow Airport around 3:40pm (BdST), reported UNB.
Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozamsmel Haque, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, PM's Adviser HT Imam, Bangladesh Parliament Chief Whip Noor-e-Alam Chowdhury Liton, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Mahbub Ali, and State Minister for Religion Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah were present at the airport to see her off.
Besides, the cabinet secretary, the chiefs of Bangladesh Army and Bangladesh Navy, the acting chief of Bangladesh Air Force, the dean of the diplomatic corps, the British high commissioner to Bangladesh and high civil and military officials were also present.
Bangladesh High Commissioner in London Saida Muna Tasnim received the prime minister at the airport.
On Wednesday, government officials concerned said the prime minister would meet with Bangladeshi envoys in the UK, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland at a London hotel on Saturday.
She will discuss and provide directives on various issues with the envoys at the conference.
A priority topic of discussion will be putting more effort into enhancing Bangladesh’s image in Europe and increasing trade and attracting more investment in the country.
The prime minister will also discuss the celebrations of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s 100th birth anniversary in 2020, as well as the 50th year of the country’s independence.
She will ask the Bangladesh envoys to utilize these two events to brand Bangladesh in a better way to Europe and the world.
Sheikh Hasina will also ask the envoys to try to work harder in order to persuade the European nations to do more in resolving the Rohingya crisis, and hold the perpetrators behind the atrocities committed in Rakhine accountable.
Among other things on the agenda are climate change, irregular migration, post-Brexit situation and its impact on Bangladesh, and addressing possible issues to improve Bangladesh’s diplomatic operations in Europe.
After the conference, the prime minister will follow up on her eye treatment, following the cataract surgery she had in May.
The prime minister is likely to return home on Aug 5.