Nepalese President arrives in Dhaka

The red carpet was rolled out as Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari arrived here this morning on a two-day official visit.

A VVIP aircraft of Nepal Airlines (A320), carrying the Nepalese President along with her entourage members, landed at Hazrat Shahjalal (R) International Airport (HISA) at 10 am, reports BSS.

It is the first visit of a Nepalese President to Dhaka. The Himalayan state’s President is visiting Bangladesh at the invitation of her Bangladeshi counterpart.

The Nepalese President became the third among the world leaders to attend the celebrations of the golden jubilee of Bangladesh’s independence and the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Maintaining the health guidelines due to pandemic COVID-19 outbreak, President Hamid received his Nepalese counterpart with a bouquet at the airport at 10.17am.

The visiting delegation members also maintained health rules, including wearing masks and maintaining social distancing, on the occasion.

The Nepalese President was given an honour guard with 21-gun salute by a smartly turned out contingent drawn from Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force at the HISA.

Abdul Hamid and his Nepalese counterpart Bhandari enjoyed the state honour staying on the makeshift saluting dais while the national anthem of the respective states was played.

The state guest also inspected the parade and subsequently both the Presidents introduced the respective countries delegation to each other.

Nepalese President entourage members include: President’s daughter Usha Kiran Bhandari, Foreign Affairs Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali and secretaries concerned and senior officials of the Nepalese government.

On the occasion, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque, Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujon, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira, among others, were present at the airport.

Besides, cabinet secretary, chiefs of the three services, principal secretary to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), foreign secretary, IGP and secretaries concerned to the President’s office were also present.

From the airport, the Nepalese President will pay rich tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War of Bangladesh by placing wreaths at the National Memorial in Savar.

Bidya Devi will sign the visitors’ book and plant a sapling there.

Subsequently, she will visit 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.

Later in the afternoon, the Nepalese President will attend the National Parade Square (Ground) function at Tejgaon as the guest of honour where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will receive her.

A foreign ministry source said President Bhandari is scheduled to deliver a statement on the occasion of Bangabandhu’s birth centenary.

President Bhandari will pay a courtesy call on her Bangladeshi counterpart M Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban

In the evening, she will sign a visitors’ book there and is scheduled to enjoy a cultural function followed by dinner at the state dining hall here.