PM Hasina arrives in London

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina arrived in London, the British capital on Thursday afternoon.

The prime minister is now on an official tour to the United Kingdom and the United States to join the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

A VVIP chartered flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the prime minister and her entourage members landed at the London Stansted International Airport at 5.00pm local time, minister press at the High Commission of Bangladesh in London, UK, Ashequn Nabi Chowdhury said.

On her arrival at the airport, the prime minister was received by High Commissioner of Bangladesh to the United Kingdom Saida Muna Tasneem.

The younger daughter of Bangladesh’s founding father, Sheikh Rehana, and state minister for foreign affairs M Shahriar Alam were present at the airport.

Earlier, the flight of the Biman Bangladesh Airlines departed the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka at 10.35am.

On the second day, on 16 September, secretary general of Commonwealth Patricia Scotland will pay a courtesy call on her at her place of residence.

Later, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, UK, Minister for South Asia, North Africa, the United Nations and the Commonwealth at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) will also pay a courtesy call on her at the place of residence.

On 17 September, Sir Keir Starmer, Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Labour Party will pay a call on her at place of residence.

Besides, the prime minister will attend the reception programme for the Head of the States/Head of the Governments hosted by the King of the UK at Buckingham Palace on 18 September.

On 19 September, she will attend the state funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey.

In the evening, the prime minister is scheduled to depart London for New York by the Special Flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines.

She will be received by Ambassador of Bangladesh to the United States Muhammad Imran and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN Muhammad Abdul Muhith when she will reach the JFK International Airport.

On 20 September, Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to attend a reception meeting hosted by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and join the inaugural ceremony of 77th session of UNGA.

She will have bilateral meetings with Filippo Grandi of UNHCR and Slovenian president Borut Pahor. She will also join the UNGA Platform of Women Leaders.

At the end of the day, she will attend the reception of US president Joe Biden.

Besides, she will join a high-level side event on sustainable housing co-hosted by Bangladesh, Botswana, Slovak Republic and UN Habitat on 21 September.

On the same day, she will have a bilateral meeting with WEF (World Economic Forum) executive director professor Schwab Klaus and join the Global Crisis Response Group (GCRG) Champions’ Meeting.

In the afternoon, the prime minister will visit the photo exhibition on the Padma Bridge at UNHQs followed by bilateral meeting with Kosovo president Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu, Ecuador president Guillermo Lasso Mendoza and Rabab Fatima, USG OHRLLS.

The prime minister will start 22 September through a breakfast meeting on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) followed by a courtesy call on by IOM director general Antonio Vitorino. She will also join a high level policy roundtable with the US Bangladesh business council.

Later, she will have bilateral meetings with Cambodian prime minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen and ICC prosecutors Nick Klegg and Karim Khan.

On 23 September, the prime minister will deliver her address at the General Debate of the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly.

Besides, she will join a civic reception by the expatriate Bangladeshi on 24 September.