PM reaches Maldives

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina Wednesday reached Maldives on her maiden six-day bilateral visit at the invitation of Maldivian president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, reports BSS.

"A special VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her entourage members landed at the Velana International Airport at 3:00pm local time," said prime minister's press secretary Ihsanul Karim. Maldivian state minister for foreign affairs received the prime minister.

Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen, health and family welfare minister Zahid Maleque and expatriates' welfare and overseas employment minister Imran Ahmad are accompanying the prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Later, the prime minister was escorted to the palace of residence in a ceremonial motorcade.

Earlier, the flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines took off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) at 12.10pm Wednesday. During her visit, four instruments, including two memorandums of understandings (MoUs), are likely to be signed Thursday (December 23).

The four proposed deeds are -- Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income, Agreement on the Transfer of Prisoners, MoU in the areas of Health Care and Medical Sciences between Bangladesh and Maldives (renewal)and MoU between Bangladesh and Maldives on Cooperation in the Area of youth and Sports Development.

Besides, the MoU on Recruitment of Qualified Health Professionals between Bangladesh and the Maldives will be renewed. During the visit, Bangladesh will gift 13 military vehicles to the Maldives as a token of friendship between the two South Asian nations.

On 23 December, prime minister Sheikh Hasina will be formally received by Maldivian president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih while a guard of honor will be accorded to the Bangladesh's head of the government.