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MNA Editorial Desk: A red carpet was rolled out as Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday on a three-day official visit.
President Abdul Hamid received the Palestinian leader near the VVIP tarmac of Hazarat Shahjalal International Airport amid a 21-gun salute, while a tiny tot presented him a bouquet.
The Palestinian president was taken to Hotel Le Meridien Dhaka on the Airport Road through a ceremonial motorcade where he will be staying during the visit.
Palestinian foreign minister Reyad Al Malki, chief justice of Palestine and the religious affairs minister Mahmoud al-Habbas, the Palestinian Authority spokesman and senior military and civil officials are accompanying the Palestinian president.
Abbas will visit Savar National Martyr’s Monument and pay respect to the martyrs of the Liberation War at 1:50 pm to 2:10 pm on Thursday. He will plant a sapling and sign the visitors’ book there.
Then he will visit Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi from 2:50 pm to 3:15pm on Thursday.
President Mahmoud Abbas will have official talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the prime minister’s office from 15:45 pm to 4:30 pm on the same day before having one-to-one meeting for 15 minutes.
Both sides will discuss bilateral, regional and international issues at the meetings. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on formation of a joint commission at foreign minister level is likely to be signed, foreign ministry officials said.
Opposition leader in parliament Raushan Ershad will meet president Abbas at his hotel on Thursday afternoon.
President Abbas who had made a stopover in Dhaka in February last year will meet his Bangladesh counterpart Abdul Hamid at 7pm on Thursday at Bangabhaban.
President Abbas will leave Dhaka at 2 pm on 3 February. Prime minister Sheikh Hasina will see him off at the airport.
Bangladesh will expand its bilateral cooperation with Palestine in “depth and dimensions”, Foreign Minister Abul Hasan Mahmood Ali said.
The minister also reiterated Bangladesh’s stance on continuing its support to the cause of Palestine in days coming ahead.
Bangladesh and Palestine signed an energy cooperation deal last year. Dhaka also hosts at least 100 Palestinian students, both from military and civilian. During the visit, Bangladesh will also announce visa waiver for Palestinian diplomats.
