Dhaka Bureau: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina returned home today after a six-day official visit to Thailand. A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying the Prime Minister and her entourage landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 11:25 a.m. on Monday (April 29).
Earlier, the flight departed Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport at 10:10 a.m. local time.
It is also said from the press wing that Sheikh Hasina arrived in Bangkok on April 24 afternoon on both bilateral and multilateral visits to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries at the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Sretha Thavisin. He was given a warm red carpet welcome upon his arrival at Don Mueang International Airport. There he was given a guard of honor and a song salute.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina described the six-day visit as part of a broader focus on ‘neighbourhood’ policies. Because it provides an excellent opportunity for the two countries to further renew the momentum of bilateral relations. The Prime Minister expressed hope that this visit will take relations between the two countries much further.
During the visit, Sheikh Hasina held bilateral talks with Thai Prime Minister Thavisin at Government House (Prime Minister’s Office) on April 26, where five bilateral documents were signed to strengthen bilateral relations between Southeast Asian and South Asian countries. These include one contract, three memoranda of understanding (MOU), and one letter of intent (LOI).
The documents include an agreement on visa waivers for official passport holders, energy cooperation, cooperation and mutual assistance on customs and cooperation in tourism, and a letter of intent (LOI) to negotiate a free trade agreement (FTA) by 2024.
Sheikh Hasina also attended a formal lunch hosted by the Thai Prime Minister at Government House.
Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina attended the 80th session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNSCAP) on April 25. In his speech at the session, he appealed to all world leaders to stop war, attack, and aggression and called on them to say ‘no’ to war.
United Nations Under-Secretary General and ESCAP Executive Secretary Armida Salsiah Alisjabana met the Prime Minister at the UNSCAP conference venue.
On the same day, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid a courtesy call on King and Queen Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajira-Klaucha-Uuya and Queen Suthida Vajrasudha-Bimala-Lakshan of Thailand at the Amphorn Southern Throne Hall of Dusit Palace.
