SINGAPORE, Oct 20, 2019 (BSS) – President M Abdul Hamid reached here this evening en route to Japan’s capital Tokyo to attend Japanese new emperor’s enthronement ceremony slated for October 22-24.
The flight, carrying the President and his entourage members, landed at the Changi International Airport here at 7.20 pm (local time).
After over a three-hour stopover in Singapore, the President will leave for Japan by another flight no SQ 636 Singapore Airlines flight at 10.50 pm local time.
Earlier in the afternoon, the head of the state left Dhaka on an eight-day official visit to Japan and Singapore.
A regular flight no. SQ 449 of Singapore Airlines took off from Hazrat Shahjalal (R) International Airport in Dhaka for Singapore as part of his two-nation tour at 1.25pm.
However, the flight is scheduled to reach Haneda International Airport in Tokyo at 6.45 am (local time) tomorrow.
President’s spouse Rashida Khanam, his son Rejwan Ahammad Taufiq, MP, and concerned officials to Bangabhaban and foreign ministry are accompanying him during the tour.
Bangladesh Ambassador to Japan Rabab Fatima will receive the President at the airport.
During his stay in Tokyo, the President will attend the Ceremony of Enthronement of new Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako at the State Hall of Imperial Place at 1.30 pm on October 22.
Japanese Emperor is set to proclaim his enthronement during the stipulated time in a centuries-old ceremony to be attended by some 2,000 people, including heads of state and other dignitaries from more than 170 countries, according to media reports.
Emperor Naruhito, 59, acceded to the throne in May after his father, Akihito, became the first monarch to abdicate in two centuries. He is the 126th monarch according to Japan’s traditional order of succession.
On October 23, President Hamid will visit Yokohama, Japan’s second largest city.
Kosovo President Hashim ThaOi will call on his Bangladeshi counterpart at Hotel New Otani in Tokyo on the same day.
Abdul Hamid will also attend the banquet to be hosted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Hotel New Otani.
On his way back home, the President will make a two-day stopover in Singapore. On the second leg of his two-nation tour, the President will visit Singapore from Oct 25-27.
The President is expected to return home at 11.40pm on October 27.