Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made a courtesy call on Pope Francis at Vatican Embassy in the city on Friday (Dec 1). PM's press secretary Ihsanul Karim said Pope and Prime Minister exchanged greetings, followed by their 20-minute private conversation.
After the meeting, the PM introduced her younger sister Sheikh Rehana to Pope. Son of Rehana Radwan Mujib Siddiq and his wife Peppe Siddiq were present, local media reports said.
Pope Francis, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and family members of Bangabandhu took photographs. Earlier in the day, Pope Francis visited the Ramna Cathedral and joined a mass prayer and rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka.
The Pope arrived here Thursday (Nov 30) on a three-day state visit, with glad tidings of peace and harmony.
Meanwhile, the pope paid rich tribute to the memories of martyrs of the great liberation war and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, at the National Memorial in Savar and Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi Road 32 respectively.
The Pope is scheduled to leave Dhaka on Saturday (Dec 2).
Pope Francis is the second Pope visiting Bangladesh. About 31 years ago, His Holiness Pope John Paul II officially visited Bangladesh, on Nov 19, 1986.
