Sheikh Hasina leaves for UAE on three-day visit

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this morning on a three-day official visit, aiming to further strengthen Bangladesh's bilateral relations with the oil-rich Gulf nation and increase manpower export.

A VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the prime minister and her entourage left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at around 8.30 a.m., reports the Daily Star.

The ministers, high civil and military officials saw the premier off at the airport.

During the three-day bilateral UAE tour, the prime minister will have meetings with UAE Mother of the Nation Sheikh Fatima, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on October 26.

Hasina will also attend a community reception there.

On Monday, she will fly to Dubai to hold a meeting with Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

After holding the meeting, the Prime Minister will fly to Ras al-Khaimah (RAK) for holding another meeting with its ruler Sheikh Saud Bin Aaqr Al Qasimi. Before that, she will attend a luncheon to be hosted by the ruler of RAK.

From there, Hasina will again fly to Dubai to catch the homebound VVIP flight of national flag carrier Bangladesh Biman at about 4:45 p.m. (local time) and is expected to reach Dhaka at about 11.30 p.m. (local time).

According to the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry, over half a dozen agreements and memorandums of understanding on trade, manpower and investment are expected to be signed during the visit.