Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will leave Dhaka for Rome on Sunday (Feb 11) on a four-day official visit to Italy to attend the annual governing council meeting of International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The PM is joining the meeting at the invitation of IFAD President Gilbert F Houngbo. At an invitation of Pope Francis, Hasina will also visit Vatican City where she will hold a meeting with Pope Francis, local media reports said.
The premier and her entourage members will depart Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for the Italian capital in the morning. Bangladesh Ambassador to Italy Abdus Sobhan Sikder will receive the premier at the airport. On her way to Rome, the PM will make a stopover in Dubai for nearly two hours.
On Feb 12, Hasina will visit the Vatican City to meet Pope Francis. She will also hold a meeting with Secretary State of Vatican City Cardinal Pietro Paroline there. Pope Francis had earlier visited Bangladesh from Nov 30 to Dec 2 last at the invitation of Sheikh Hasina.
The PM will attend the 41st Session of the Governing Council of IFAD in the morning on Feb 13 at the IFAD Headquarters in Rome. She will present a keynote paper at the inaugural session of the governing council meeting.
