PM cancels visits to Malta, France

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has cancelled her upcoming visits to Malta and France, sources both at the Prime Minister’s Office and Foreign Ministry confirmed yesterday.
However, there has been no official announcement so far regarding the cancellation of the visits or mention of any specific reason or reasons behind the cancellation. But, sources are attributing the decision to the overall situation both at home and in Europe as the reason for skipping the two important multilateral events.
“It is not unknown to the people that situation in the country is far from the best. And, following the terrorist attacks in Paris, situation in Europe is also a bit tense,” said a source, adding, “The verdicts of the Appellate Division on Wednesday in connection with Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid may have played a part in taking the decision not to attend the events.” The prime minister was scheduled to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to be held in Malta on November 27-29.

Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, who cancelled his press briefing yesterday in this regard, is now likely to lead the Bangladesh delegation in the meeting.
The prime minister was due to fly to Paris from Malta to attend the Climate Summit in Paris, popularly known as COP21. Her speech at the Summit, likely to be attended by about 120 Heads of State and Government, was scheduled for November 30.
Environment Minister Anwar Hossain Manju will now lead the Bangladesh delegation at COP21, said sources.
Apart from attending the events in Malta and Paris, the Prime Minister was due to hold bilateral meetings with world leaders on the sidelines of those meetings. Earlier, Hasina cancelled her trip to Paris due to adverse situation created by the series of terrorist attacks in the French capital.
She was also to attend a UNESCO event in Paris alongside a bilateral meeting with French President Francois Hollande.

PM cancels visits to Malta, France

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has cancelled her upcoming visits to Malta and France, sources both at the Prime Ministers Office and Foreign Ministry confirmed yesterday. However, there has been no official announcement so far regarding the cancellation of the visits or mention of any specific reason or reasons behind the cancellation. But, sources are attributing the decision to the overall situation both at home and in Europe as the reason for skipping the two important multilateral events. It is not unknown to the people that situation in the country is far from the best. And, following the terrorist attacks in Paris, situation in Europe is also a bit tense, said a source, adding, The verdicts of the Appellate Division on Wednesday in connection with Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid may have played a part in taking the decision not to attend the events. The prime minister was scheduled to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to be held in Malta on November 27-29. Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, who cancelled his press briefing yesterday in this regard, is now likely to lead the Bangladesh delegation in the meeting. The prime minister was due to fly to Paris from Malta to attend the Climate Summit in Paris, popularly known as COP21. Her speech at the Summit, likely to be attended by about 120 Heads of State and Government, was scheduled for November 30. Environment Minister Anwar Hossain Manju will now lead the Bangladesh delegation at COP21, said sources. Apart from attending the events in Malta and Paris, the Prime Minister was due to hold bilateral meetings with world leaders on the sidelines of those meetings. Earlier, Hasina cancelled her trip to Paris due to adverse situation created by the series of terrorist attacks in the French capital. She was also to attend a UNESCO event in Paris alongside a bilateral meeting with French President Francois Hollande.