ZCZC
BSS-04
PM-ARRIVAL-KOLKATA
PM reaches Kolkata to watch Bangladesh-India 2nd test match
KOLKATA, Nov 22, 2019 (BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has reached
Kolkata, capital of the India’s West Bengal province, on a daylong official
visit to watch the second cricket Test of the two-match Test series between
Bangladesh and India that begins at Eden Gardens at 1pm local time.
A Biman Bangladesh Airlines special flight carrying the prime minister and
her entourage members landed at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International
Airport in Kolkata at 10:25am (Indian time).
Mayor of Kolkata and Minister for Urban Development and Municipal Affairs
of West Bengal Firhad Hakim, Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Syed
Muazzem Ali, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das and
President of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Sourav Ganguly
received the premier at the airport.
After reception at the airport, a ceremonial motorcade escorted the prime
minister to Hotel Taj Bengal, Kolkata where she will be staying during her
short visit.
Indian Premier Narendra Modi has formally invited Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina to attend the historic day-night Test match in the West Bengal capital
of Kolkata, popularly known as ‘City of Joy’ from November 22 to 26.
Bangladesh and India will play their maiden day-night Test match where
pink ball will be used for the first time of any Test cricket match of the
two neighbours.
Sheikh Hasina will go to the Eden Gardens around 12:30pm local time where
she along with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will ring the
ceremonial bell for the opening of the Test match between Bangladesh and
India.
After watching the first session of the second Test match, the prime
minister will return to her place of residence.
The premier will again go to the stadium in the evening.
After the first day’s match, she will join a short cultural function that
will be followed by a felicitation programme to be arranged by the Cricket
Association of Bengal at the ground of the Eden Gardens Stadium.
The prime minister will depart from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
International Airport in Kolkata for Dhaka by a Biman Bangladesh Airlines
special flight at 10pm (Indian time) and the flight is expected to land at
Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 11:30pm (BST).
Earlier, President of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Sourav
Ganguly invited Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart
Narendra Modi to watch the second Test match in Kolkata.
BSS/SH/AHJ/GMR/1123 hrs