PM set to visit Japan, Saudi Arabia and Finland

Secretariat Correspondent: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to make a 12-day tri-nation tour for Japan, Saudi Arabia and Finland.

She will leave Dhaka for Japan on May 28. From there, she will fly for Saudi Arabia and finally visit Finland.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen came up with the disclosure in a press conference at the ministry on Sunday.

He said, “During Prime Minister’s visit in Japan, the 40 th ODA (Official Development Assistance) worth US 2.5 billion will be signed between the two countries.”

He said the amount was 35 percent higher than that of the last year’s ODA.

The minister said the five projects to be implemented with the Japanese ODA are: Matarbari port development; Dhaka mass rapid transit development; foreign direct investment promotion; energy efficiency and conservation promotion financing; and Matarbari ultra super critical coal-fired power.

“Relations between Bangladesh and Japan have already been upgraded to comprehensive partnership stage and Tokyo is increasing its assistance gradually in communications, power and energy and industrialization process of Bangladesh,” he added.

Momen said the Rohingya crisis was likely to largely feature the premier’s tri-nation tour.

PM will leave Japan for Saudi Arabia on May 30. Thre she will attend OIC conference on May 31, he said.

From Saudi Arabia, she will fly for Finland and there she will celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr, Momen added.

risingbd/Dhaka/May 26, 2019/Hassan/AKA