Kuwaiti PM accorded a rousing reception

A red carpet was rolled out as Kuwaiti prime minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah arrived here on Tuesday on a three-day official visit at the invitation of his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina.
A special Emiri Aircraft carrying the Kuwaiti prime minister and his entourage landed at Hazarat Shahjalal International Airport at 5:09pm.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina received the Kuwaiti prime minister near the VVIP tarmac of the airport at 5:22 pm, while a tiny tot presented him a bouquet.
Accompanied by the Bangladesh prime minister, Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak then proceeded towards the makeshift ‘Saluting Dais’ set up near the VVIP tarmac of the airport.
A smartly turned out contingent drawn from Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force gave a guard of honour and state salute to the Kuwaiti prime minister. He then took the salute from the decorated dais. The national anthems of the two countries were played on the occasion.
Later, the Kuwaiti prime minister inspected the guard.
The Bangladesh prime minister then introduced her cabinet colleagues and other dignitaries to the Kuwaiti PM at the presentation line. He also introduced his entourage to Sheikh Hasina.
Commerce minister Tofail Ahmed, agriculture minister Begum Matia Chowdhury, foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali, expatriates welfare and overseas employment minister Nurul Islam BSc, PM’s energy advisor Towfique-e-Elahi Chowdhury, state minister for power Nasrul Hamid Bipu, state minister for foreign affairs Md Shahriar Alam were present on the occasion.
Besides, cabinet secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam, the chiefs of the three services, the PM’s principal secretary, inspector general of police, the dean of the diplomatic corps, the Kuwaiti ambassador in Dhaka, the Bangladesh ambassador to Kuwait, the PM’s press secretary and high civil and military officials were also present at the airport.
After the warm reception at the airport, the Kuwaiti premier was taken to Hotel Le Meridien Dhaka at the Airport Road through a ceremonial motorcade where he will be staying during the visit.
During his three-day high-profile visit, the Kuwaiti PM will hold bilateral talks with prime minister Sheikh Hasina at the prime minister’s office on Wednesday afternoon.
The talks would be followed by signing of a number of agreements between the two countries.
Before the talks, the two prime ministers will have tete-a-tete for 15 minutes at the same place.
Different bilateral and multilateral issues, including enhancing cooperation in trade and investment, manpower and defence sectors between the two countries would be the main focus in the talks.
Besides, three agreements relating to increasing Kuwait investment in Bangladesh, military cooperation and easing visa procedures for diplomatic and official passport holders are expected to be signed after the talks.
The Kuwaiti prime minister will pay a courtesy call on president Md Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban on Wednesday evening. Before the meeting, he will witness the parliament session at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak will join a banquet to be hosted by prime minister Sheikh Hasina at Hotel Sonargaon on Wednesday.
During his stay in Dhaka, Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak will lay wreaths at national mausoleum in Savar on Wednesday morning to pay homage to the martyrs of country’s War of Liberation.
The Kuwait PM will place wreaths at the portrait of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu Bhaban in the city’s Dhanmondi area on Thursday morning to pay tributes to the architect of Bangladesh’s independence.
Leader of the opposition in parliament Begum Raushan Ershad will call on the Kuwait prime minister on Thursday at his hotel suite.
The high-profile entourage of Kuwait prime minister includes first deputy prime minister and foreign minister Sheikh Sabah Al Khaled Al Hamad Al Sabah, deputy prime minister, ministry of finance and acting minister of oil Anas Khaled Al-Sabah, education minister Bader Hamad Al Eissa and deputy prime minister of foreign affairs ambassador Khaled Sueliman Al-Jarallah.
A high-powered trade and commercial delegation is also accompanying the visiting Kuwait prime minister to exchange views with the Bangladesh business leaders.
Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak will leave Dhaka on Thursday afternoon.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net