PM off to Paris to attend One Planet Summit

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left here on Monday morning for Paris on a three-day official visit to France to attend the One Planet Summit, reports BSS.

The Bangladesh premier will join the summit at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. 

An Emirates flight carrying the prime minister and members of her entourage took off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 10:20 am. 

Deputy Leader of the Jatiya Sangsad Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, PM's Adviser HT Imam, Jatiya Sangsad Chief Whip ASM Feroz, the chiefs of the three services, the dean of the diplomatic corps and high civil and military officials were present at the airport to see the premier off.

The flight is scheduled to reach the Charles De Gaulle International Airport in Paris at 7.30 pm (local time) today. On her way to Paris, the premier will make a stopover in Dubai.

Bangladesh Ambassador to France Kazi Imtiaz Hossain will receive the prime minister at the airport. From the airport, Sheikh Hasina in a ceremonial motorcade will be taken to Intercontinental Paris Le Grand (Opera), where she will be staying during the visit. 

The summit kicks off at La Seine Musicale, a music and performing arts center, located at Ile Senguin Island in the western suburbs of the French capital on Tuesday. 

Over 100 world leaders along with 2,000 participants from non-governmental organisations, foundations, public and private sectors are expected to join the summit for accelerating the common goals to fight climate change challenges.

On Tuesday evening, the Bangladesh prime minister will attend the High-Level Segment of the One Planet Summit at La Seine Musicale. After returning from the summit, the premier will join a community event at her place of residence. 

The prime minister will hold a bilateral meeting with France President Emmanuel Macron at Elysee Palace on Tuesday morning. 

She will also join a lunch to be hosted by the French president for the heads of the state and government, co-organizers and VIPs of the summit at Elysee Palace. 

Sheikh Hasina will depart Paris on Wednesday evening and reach home on Thursday afternoon.