PM arrives in Bangkok

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived in Bangkok on Wednesday afternoon on a six-day official visit to Thailand at the invitation of her Thai counterpart Srettha Thavisin to strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries, reports BSS.

A flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, carrying the premier and her entourage, landed at Don Mueang International Airport, Bangkok at 01:08 pm, said the premier's Speechwriter Md. Nazrul Islam.

Earlier, the flight departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 10:13 am (BD time) today. The Prime Minister arrived in Bangkok on a bilateral and multilateral visit.

During her visit, the Bangladesh premier will hold bilateral talks with Thai Prime Minister Thavisin and also attend the 80th Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

Bangladesh and Thailand will sign a number of cooperation documents including a letter of intent on negotiations for a free trade agreement between the two countries, Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud told a media briefing on Monday.

Bangladesh and Thailand are likely to sign an agreement on visa exemption for official passport holders, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on energy cooperation while two more MoUs on tourism sector cooperation and duty related mutual cooperation to expand the relations, he said.

On April 26, the premier will be formally received by her Thai counterpart Srettha Thavisin while a ceremonial guard of honor will be accorded to her.

On the same day, the Bangladesh premier will hold bilateral talks with Thavisin at the Government House (Prime Minister's Office) following a tete-a-tete between the two leaders, witness the signing of the documents, participate in a joint press conference and then attend a state lunch to be hosted by her Thai counterpart in her honour there.

During the visit, the prime minister will have a Royal audience of Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshan, King and Queen of the Kingdom of Thailand at the Palace.

In her multilateral engagement, the Prime Minister is scheduled to attend the 80th Session of ESCAP and deliver a speech on April 25.

On the same day, the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and ESCAP Executive Secretary Armida Salsiah Alisjabana will call on the prime minister.

The premier is expected to return home on April 29.