PM arrives in Kolkata on 2-day visit

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived in Kolkata today on a two-day official visit at the invitation of her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

A VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the premier and her entourage members landed at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata at 9.25 am, BSS reported.

Minister for Urban Development of West Bengal Government Firhad Hakim and Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Syed Moazzem Ali received the Prime Minister at the airport.

Earlier, the flight carrying the Prime Minister left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 8.55 am.

Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Kader, PM's Adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Chief Whip ASM Firoz, chiefs of three services and dean of diplomatic corps were present to see the Prime Minister off at the airport. From Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, Sheikh Hasina will go to Shantiniketan in Birbhum district of West Bengal, about 180 km north off Kolkata, by a helicopter.

In Shantiniketan, the premier will attend the Visva Bharati University's convocation later today as the guest of honour. She will inaugurate the newly constructed Bangladesh Bhaban at Shantiniketan jointly with Indian Prime Minister Nerandra Modi.

PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told BSS that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would hold a meeting with Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the inaugural ceremony of Bangladesh Bhaban at Shantiniketan.

From Shantniketan, Sheikh Hasina will return to Kolkata and will visit 'Jorasanko Thakur Bari', the residence of Poet Rabindranath Tagore. In the evening, West Bengal chamber leaders are scheduled to call on her at Hotel Taj Bengal Kolkata.

On Saturday, the Prime Minister will go to Kazi Nazrul University at Asansol where she will be conferred with the honorary DLitt Degree at a special convocation.

Sheikh Hasina will deliver a speech at the ceremony and hand over gold medals among the meritorious students.