Pranab due in Dhaka Sunday

Former Indian president Pranab Mukherjee will arrive in Dhaka on Sunday to attend a number of programmes, including the closing session of the 'International Bengali Literature Conference' in the city, reports UNB.

Foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali will welcome Pranab at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport upon his arrival by a Jet Airways flight in the afternoon, an official told UNB.

Pranab's daughter Sharmista Mukherjee, among others, will accompany the former Indian president during his Bangladesh visit.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the three-day literature conference on Saturday at Bangla Academy while Pranab will be present at the closing ceremony of the conference on Monday as the chief guest.

He will meet prime minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganobhaban on Monday and will have lunch there together.

Pranab will also visit Bangabandhu Museum to pay respects to father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Monday morning.

Finance minister AMA Muhith will host a dinner on the same day in honor of Pranab.

Indian high commissioner in Dhaka Harsh Vardhan Shringla will host a reception to the former Indian president on Sunday.

On Tuesday morning, he will go to Chittagong and will visit Chittagong Armoury Raid site, the European Club site and Chittagong University.

Chittagong University (CU) will honour him with a Doctor of Letters (D Litt) degree on Tuesday afternoon through a special convocation ceremony.

The university has taken a decision in its 52nd syndicate meeting recently.

CU registrar Prof Kamrul Huda said the former Indian president is also scheduled to visit two dormitories - Surya Sen and Pritilata - during his visit and will deliver a speech for the teachers and students.

"The decision to honour him (Pranab) with D Litt was taken in consultation with president (Abdul Hamid)," Huda said.

Pranab, according to his programme schedule, will visit ancestral home of Masterda Surya Sen, an influential leader of Indian independence movement against British rule, at village Noapara under Raozan upazila in Chittagong to pay homage to Surya Sen.

Pranab, who served as the 13th president of India and now enjoying his retired life by reading books and writing his diary, will meet president Abdul Hamid on Wednesday evening.

President Hamid will host a dinner in honour of Pranab at Bangabhaban.

The former Indian president will leave for New Delhi by Jet Airways at 10:20am on Thursday.