PM leaves for KSA, UK Sunday

Hasina-Modi meeting likely in London

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will leave the capital on Sunday for a weeklong trip to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom. In Saudi Arabia, the prime minister will attend the closing ceremony of a military exercise titled ‘Gulf Shield-1’ while she will take part in the 25th meeting of the Commonwealth head of the government in the UK, Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali told a press conference at the ministry yesterday.

She will leave Saudi Arabia for London on Monday for the Commonwealth meeting and return home on April 23. About the military exercise, the foreign minister said that it began on March 18 and 18 members of the Bangladesh armed forces have taken part in the exercise. Earlier, Bangladesh had joined the counterterrorism Islamic military alliance. According to a senior official of the foreign ministry, 23 countries including the United States, United Kingdom and Pakistan are taking part in the event that involves predominantly training, exchange of views, etc.

“It is not like a conventional military exercise which only involves military activities with the use of live ammunitions,” he said. The official further said that quite a few heads of the government and state will attend the closing ceremony along with the prime minister. The prime minister will stay Sunday night in Dammam, he said, adding that it is highly unlikely that there will be any bilateral engagement with Saudis while she is in the kingdom.

The foreign minister informed that Dhaka is expecting a meeting between Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Commonwealth meeting.

“But, the time of the meeting is yet to be fixed. It’s a continuous process,” he added.

When asked if the Teesta issue will be discussed, the foreign minister said that all issues will be discussed in the meeting. Ahead of the Commonwealth meeting, the Rohingya crisis has already been discussed and for the first time, member states of the Commonwealth have expressed solidarity with Bangladesh on this issue.

On Rohingya crisis, he said that a delegation of the United Nations Security Council will visit Bangladesh and from here they will go to Myanmar. Asked if he is satisfied with the stance of Russia on Rohingya crisis, Ali replied, “We are satisfied. Everyone is in the Security Council. We will talk when they (the delegation) will come.”

PM leaves for KSA, UK Sunday

Hasina-Modi meeting likely in London

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will leave the capital on Sunday for a weeklong trip to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom. In Saudi Arabia, the prime minister will attend the closing ceremony of a military exercise titled Gulf Shield-1 while she will take part in the 25th meeting of the Commonwealth head of the government in the UK, Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali told a press conference at the ministry yesterday. She will leave Saudi Arabia for London on Monday for the Commonwealth meeting and return home on April 23. About the military exercise, the foreign minister said that it began on March 18 and 18 members of the Bangladesh armed forces have taken part in the exercise. Earlier, Bangladesh had joined the counterterrorism Islamic military alliance. According to a senior official of the foreign ministry, 23 countries including the United States, United Kingdom and Pakistan are taking part in the event that involves predominantly training, exchange of views, etc. It is not like a conventional military exercise which only involves military activities with the use of live ammunitions, he said. The official further said that quite a few heads of the government and state will attend the closing ceremony along with the prime minister. The prime minister will stay Sunday night in Dammam, he said, adding that it is highly unlikely that there will be any bilateral engagement with Saudis while she is in the kingdom. The foreign minister informed that Dhaka is expecting a meeting between Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Commonwealth meeting. But, the time of the meeting is yet to be fixed. Its a continuous process, he added. When asked if the Teesta issue will be discussed, the foreign minister said that all issues will be discussed in the meeting. Ahead of the Commonwealth meeting, the Rohingya crisis has already been discussed and for the first time, member states of the Commonwealth have expressed solidarity with Bangladesh on this issue. On Rohingya crisis, he said that a delegation of the United Nations Security Council will visit Bangladesh and from here they will go to Myanmar. Asked if he is satisfied with the stance of Russia on Rohingya crisis, Ali replied, We are satisfied. Everyone is in the Security Council. We will talk when they (the delegation) will come.