PM accorded red carpet reception in Netherlands

A red carpet was rolled out as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived here on Tuesday night on a three-day official visit to the Netherlands at the invitation of her Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte.

A VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the Prime Minister and her entourage members landed at the Amsterdam Schiphol Airport Centre in the Dutch capital at 8.30 pm (Netherlands time).

Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Environment Melanie Schultz van Haegen, Bangladesh Ambassador to the Netherlands Sheikh Muhammad Belal and Dutch Ambassador in Dhaka Leoni Margaretha Cuelenaera received the Prime Minister at the airport.

After a warm reception at the Amsterdam Schiphol Airport Centre, the Prime Minister was taken to Grand Hotel Amrath Kurhaus in The Hague, the administrative capital of the Netherlands, through a ceremonial motorcade. She would stay at the hotel during her visit.

A huge number of expatriate Bangladeshis including leaders and workers of All European Awami League greeted Sheikh Hasina when she reached the hotel. On behalf of the AL leaders and workers, two tiny tots presented bouquets to the Premier at the hotel lounge.

On her way to Amsterdam, Sheikh Hasina earlier made a five-hour stopover in Abu Dhabi.

During her visit to the Netherlands, the Prime Minister will hold bilateral talks with Dutch Premier Mark Rutte at his official residence "Catshuis" this afternoon. The talks would be followed by signing of bilateral instruments.

Later, Sheikh Hasina will join a dinner to be hosted in her honour by Mark Rutte. She will also call on Queen Maxima of the Netherlands at the Royal Palace today.

Sheikh Hasina will visit Deltaic Island through helicopter and harbour by ship today. She will also witness a presentation on her visit to the Deltaic Island.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, State Minister for Water Resources Mohammad Nazrul Islam, PM`s Principal Secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad, Senior Secretary of the Commerce Ministry Hedayet Ullah Al Mamun, Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque, Shipping Secretary Shafiq Alam Mehedi and PM`s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim, among others, are accompanying the Prime Minister.

Besides, a 19-member Bangladesh business team comprising the leaders of the FBCCI, BGMEA and Dutch-Bangla Chamber of Commerce and Industry is visiting the Netherlands with Sheikh Hasina.