Palestinian president given hearty send-off

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was given a hearty send off as he left Dhaka for home on Friday after wrapping up his three-day official visit to Bangladesh.

The Palestinian president paid his maiden official visit to Bangladesh from February 1-3 at the invitation of his Bangladesh counterpart Abdul Hamid.

A special aircraft carrying the Palestinian president and his entourage members departed Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport here around 2.45 pm.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina saw Mahmoud Abbas off at the airport. She presented a flower bouquet to the Palestinian president just before his boarding the aircraft.

Earlier, a smartly turned out contingent of Bangladesh Army gave a static guard of honour to Mahmoud Abbas.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam, PM`s Principal Secretary Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, Senior PMO Secretary Suraiya Begum and Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque were also present at the airport.

During his stay in Dhaka, Mahmoud Abbas called on President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban and led the Palestinian delegation to the official talks with Bangladesh at the Prime Minister`s Office on Thursday.

He also held a tete-a-tete with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the PMO on Thursday, while Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Begum Raushan Ershad called on the Palestinian president today.

Mahmoud Abbas visited the National Mausoleum at Savar and placed wreaths in memory of the freedom fighters, who sacrificed their lives for independence of Bangladesh in 1971.

He also visited Bangabandhu Memorial Museum and paid homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Intergovernmental Joint Committee was signed between Bangladesh and Palestine in the presence of Sheikh Hasina and Mahmoud Abbas.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmoud Ali and Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al Maliki inked the MoU. Through the MoU, regular foreign office consultation between the two countries would be held.

The Palestinian leader attended a cultural programme followed by a dinner hosted by President Hamid at Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban on Thursday.

The entourage of President Abbas included Palestinian Foreign Minister Dr Riad Al Maliki, Chief Justice Mahmuod SA Alhabbash, Presidential Spokesman Nabil Aburudainah, Advisor for Diplomatic Affairs Dr Majdi AM Khalidi, Chief Security Official Major General Shehada Ismal, Chief of Protocol Ambassador Hussein Hussein, President`s Physician Dr Naim Sadqi Hussein.

Source: BSS