PM leaves for Netherlands

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left here on Tuesday morning for Amsterdam on a three-day official visit to the Netherlands at the invitation of her Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte.

A flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the Prime Minister and her entourage members left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport here at 8.15 am.

Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, PM`s Media Advisor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury and Chief Whip ASM Firoz saw the Prime Minister off at the airport. Cabinet secretary, chiefs of three services, British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, dean of diplomatic corps, and Charge D`Affaires of Netherlands embassy were present.

The flight is scheduled to reach Amsterdam Schiphol Airport Centre in the Dutch capital at 9 pm (Netherlands time) via Abu Dhabi where the premier will make a five-hour stopover.

After a reception at the Amsterdam Schiphol Airport Centre, the Prime Minister will be taken to Grand Hotel Amrath Kurhaus in The Hague, the administrative capital of the Netherlands, through a ceremonial motorcade where she will stay during her visit.

The Prime Minister will hold bilateral talks with Dutch Premier Mark Rutte on November 4.The talks would be followed by signing of a number of bilateral instruments, officials said.

Before that, Sheikh Hasina will join a discussion on "Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100" with Dutch ministers.

She will also call on Queen Maxima of the Netherlands at the Royal Palace.

Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Lilianne Ploumen and Minister of Infrastructure and Environment Melanie Schultz will call on the Prime Minister at her hotel suite.

The Prime Minister will join a dinner to be hosted in her honour by Mark Rutte.

On November 5, the Premier will join a business seminar and attend a community reception to be accorded by Bangladeshi diaspora in the Netherlands.

She will visit Koornstra & Co. that trades in fruits and vegetables with selected growers and importers all year round, and Tomatoworld, a greenhouse that produces 50 varieties of tomatoes.