The Prime Minister has left Dhaka for Bangkok

News Desk:  Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has left Dhaka for Thailand's capital Bangkok on a six-day official visit to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. At the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Sretha Thavisin, the Prime Minister along with her entourage left Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight on Wednesday morning at 10:13 am. Prime Minister's speech writer. Nazrul Islam informed this information.

The flight is scheduled to land at Bangkok's Don Mueang International Airport around 1:30 PM local time.

On the occasion of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to Thailand from April 24 to 29, Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud. At that time he said, 'This is both a bilateral and multilateral visit. The visit is significant for both sides. Because it will open a new window of cooperation between two friendly countries (Bangladesh and Thailand).'

This will be the Prime Minister's first bilateral visit after forming the government in January. During the visit, Bangladesh Prime Minister will hold bilateral talks with Thai Prime Minister Thavisin and attend the 80th session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNSCAP).

The foreign minister said that Bangladesh and Thailand will sign several cooperation documents including a letter of intent to negotiate a free trade agreement between the two countries. Bangladesh and Thailand are likely to sign visa waiver for government passport holders, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on energy cooperation and two more MoUs on cooperation in the tourism sector and mutual cooperation on customs to expand ties.

The foreign minister also said that the visit will create an opportunity to review a possible 'free trade agreement' between the two countries to expand trade and increase imports and exports.

He also said that Dhaka will strongly raise the issue of Bangladesh's application to become a 'Sectoral Dialogue Partner' of ASEAN during the Prime Minister's visit. Bangladesh will reiterate its call on Thailand as a member of ASEAN to play a more active role in the Rohingya repatriation process amid the ongoing political conflict inside Myanmar.

Since both Thailand and Myanmar belong to ASEAN, the Rohingya issue will be discussed with due importance, the foreign minister also said.

Dr. Hasan Mahmud said that the high-level visit will also discuss cooperation in the fields of investment, tourism, energy, land and sea connectivity. Bangladesh and Thailand can exploit the immense potential of the tourism sector through joint activities and exchange expertise in human resource development, promotion of Buddhist circuit programs as well as investment in the travel and leisure industry.

The minister said that this cooperation in the tourism industry can create significant economic growth and employment opportunities in both countries.

The Prime Minister will be formally welcomed by Thai Prime Minister Sretha Thavisin on April 26 and will be presented with a formal guard of honour. The Bangladeshi Prime Minister will hold a private bilateral meeting with Thavisin at Government House (Prime Minister's Office), attend the signing of documents, attend a joint press conference and then attend a state lunch hosted by the Thai Prime Minister in honor of the Bangladeshi Prime Minister.

During the visit, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be accompanied by royal visitors of Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Queen Suthida Vajrasudhabimalalakshana at the Royal Palace.

The Prime Minister will attend and address the 80th session of UNCAP on April 25. On the same day, UN Under-Secretary-General and ESC Executive Secretary Armida Salsiah Alisjabana will meet with the Prime Minister. 

Under the theme 'Leveraging Digital Innovation for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific', the 80th session will be an opportunity to strengthen regional collaborative action to harness digital innovation to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Ministers and other key stakeholders from various countries, including government leaders from Asia and the Pacific, will participate in the session to discuss how digital innovation can contribute more inclusively to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

 

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