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BSS-01
PM-DEPARTURE
PM off to Germany
DHAKA, Feb 14, 2019 (BSS) -Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left here this morning for
Germany in her maiden overseas tour in the third consecutive term in office which
would take her to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as well during the return journey.
During the six-day two-nation tour Sheikh Hasina will join an international
security conference in Germany’s Munich, and attend a defense exhibition in UAE’s Abu
Dhabi where she would also hold bilateral talks with the leaders of Middle Eastern
nation.
A VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the premier and her entourage
members took off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for Munich at 8:20 am.
Ministers, advisers to the premier, cabinet secretary, chiefs of the three
services, the dean of the diplomatic corps and high civil and military officials were
present at the airport to see the prime minister off.
The flight is scheduled to reach Munich International Airport at 1.15 pm. Munich
time.
The two-day Munich Security Conference begins in Munich on February 14, where the
premier has several other engagements including meetings with leading business
conglomerates and health campaigners.
Sheikh Hasina will visit Abu Dhabi from February 17 to 19 to attend the 14th
International Defence Exhibition (IDEX-2019) and hold bilateral talks with the UAE
leaders.
Hours after reaching Munich, Sheikh Hasina will attend a community reception to be
organized by Bangladesh Mission in Germany at Hotel Sheraton where she would stay
during the visit.
The premier will attend the opening ceremony of the Security Conference tomorrow,
deliver a statement and take part in a discussion on defense cooperation.
Sheikh Hasina is also scheduled to join a roundtable titled “Health in Crisis-WHO
cares” to be hosted by Center for Strategies and International Studies and World
Health Organisation (WHO).
She will also hold a meeting with Noble laureate 2017 Beatrice Fihn, who is the
executive director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons and with
Dr Fatou Bensouda, a top Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
In the afternoon the prime minister will hold meetings with Joe Kaeser, President
and CEO of Siemens AG and Hans Wolfgang Kunz, CEO of Veridos.
She will join a dinner to be hosted jointly by Borge Brende, President of the World
Economic Forum, and Jared Cohen, CEO of Jigsaw.
On February 16, the prime minister will join a panel discussion on “Climate Change
as a Security Threat”.
From Munich Sheikh Hasina will arrive Abu Dhabi in the morning on February 17 and
attend the openning session of the International Defence Exhibition (IDEX-2019) at Abu
Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC).
During the visit the premier is likely to hold meeting with Sheikh Mohammed bin
Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and bilateral talks with Sheikh
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler
of the Emirate of Dubai and other leaders.
Sheikh Hasina will have an audience with Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi, Wife
of Late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founder and the Inaugural President of
the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi at Al Bahar Palace. The prime minister will join a
community event to be held at St Regis Abu Dhabi Hotel where she will stay during the
visit.
Sheikh Hasina will return home in the morning on February 20.
BSS/AKH/SH/AU/AR/09:00 hrs