Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina hosted a dinner in honor of Bhutanese Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering at the Grand Ball Room of Hotel Pan Pacific Sonargaon in the capital on Tuesday (Mar 23) evening. On his arrival at the hotel, Sheikh Hasina received him. Both the premiers also enjoyed a colorful cultural programme. Several cabinet members, advisers to the PM, high civil and military officials, among others, were present on the occasion, local media reported.
In the morning, Bhutanese Premier Dr Lotay Tshering arrived Dhaka on a three-day official visit.
Dr Lotay Tshering is visiting Bangladesh as a special representative of the Bhutanese King to attend the celebration of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh’s Independence.
A special flight of Royal Bhutanese Airlines – Druk Air, carrying the Bhutanese PM along with his entourage members, landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HISA) at 09:30 a.m.
The Bhutanese Premier became the fourth among the world leaders to attend the 10-day celebration.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received her Bhutanese counterpart at the airport by presenting a flower of bouquet, while 21-gun salute were heralded to welcome the state guest.
The Bhutanese Prime Minister was given a guard of honor by a smartly turned out contingent drawn from Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force at the HISA.
Sheikh Hasina and her Bhutanese counterpart Tshering enjoyed the state honour, staying on the makeshift saluting dais while the national anthems of the respective countries were played.
The state guest also inspected the parade and subsequently both the premiers introduced the delegations of the respective countries to each other.
Members of the cabinet, Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister and Chiefs of the three services, among others, were present.
From the airport, the Bhutanese Premier went Savar to paid rich tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War of Bangladesh by placing wreaths at the National Memorial.
Lotay Tshering signed the visitors’ book and planted a sapling there alongside visiting the Mimusops Elengi Variegata sapling planted by him on Apr 12, 2019.
Subsequently, he visited Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi no. 32 to pay tributes to country’s founding Father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the greatest Bangalee of all times. He visited the museum and signed the visitors’ book there.
On Wednesday morning, Lotay Tshering is scheduled to meet Sheikh Hasina at the Prime Minister’s Office. Later, the Bhutanese PM will pay a courtesy call on Bangladesh President Md. Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban. He will sign the visitors’ book there.
In the afternoon, Lotay Tshering will join the celebration event at National Parade Square as the guest of honor where Sheikh Hasina will receive him.
To join the 10-day celebration from Mar 17-26 with the theme “The Eternal Mujib”, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Dhaka on Mar 26 and depart Dhaka on Mar 27 as the last world leader.
Earlier, Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and his spouse Fazna Ahmed graced the opening ceremony while the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa joined on the third day and President of Nepal Bidya Devi Bhandari joined the function as guest of honor on the sixth day.
