PM flies to London Thursday

DHAKA, July 3: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina leaves here for London tomorrow (Thursday) on a weeklong official visit to the United Kingdom (UK) and the Republic of Belarus.

On the first leg, she will visit the United Kingdom from July 4 to 8. From there, she will visit Belarus on July 8-10, foreign ministry sources said.

A VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the Prime Minister and members of her entourage will leave Hazrat Shahjalal
International Airport (HSIA) for London at 9 am tomorrow.

The flight is scheduled to reach Heathrow International Airport at 2.50 pm (London time) the same day.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Mohammed Mijarul Quayes and his wife will receive Sheikh Hasina at the airport.

After a warm reception at the airport, the Prime Minister will be taken to Hotel Hilton through a ceremonial motorcade where she will be staying during her visit to the UK.

During her stay in the British capital, Sheikh Hasina will have a meeting with British Foreign Minister William Hague on July 4.

On July 5, she will address a meeting of the Bangladesh community in the UK.

The Prime Minister will have a breakfast meeting with the peers and parliament members of the UK on July 8.

After wrapping up the UK tour, Sheikh Hasina would leave London for Minsk, the Belarusian capital, at 3 pm (UK time) the same day.

The Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying the Prime Minister will reach Minsk International Airport at 8 pm (Belarus time).

Belarusian Prime Minister Mikhail V. Myasinkovich and Bangladesh Ambassador in Minsk Dr Saiful Hoque will receive Sheikh Hasina at the airport.

After a warm welcome at the airport, Sheikh Hasina will be taken to the President Hotel through a ceremonial motorcade where she will be staying during her visit.

During her three-day official visit to Belarus, Sheikh Hasina will attend the official welcoming ceremony at the Independence Square in Minsk.
The Bangladesh premier will have official talks with her Belarusian counterpart Mikhail Myasinkovich at the House of Government.

The official talks will be followed by a number of agreements and memorandum of understandings. Later, the two premiers will attend a joint press briefing.

Sheikh Hasina will join the state banquet to be hosted in her honour by the Belarusian Prime Minister at `Frunze 15`, the official residence of Myasinkovich.

The Prime Minister will call on Belarusian President Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko at his official residence in Minsk.

She will address a joint business council meeting to be organized by Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BelCCI)

Sheikh Hasina will also place wreaths at the historic Victory Square, the key landmark of Minsk, and Khatyn State Memorial Complex.

She will visit the Minsk Automobile Plant and the Minsk Milk Production Factory.

The Prime Minister is expected to return home in the afternoon on July 11 via Istanbul of Turkey.