India commerce minister due Monday

Indian commerce, industry and civil aviation minister Suresh Prabhu will arrive on Monday on a five-day visit to Bangladesh to discuss trade and other bilateral issues between the two countries.

Though the Indian minister is coming to Bangladesh at the invitation of commerce minister Tofail Ahmed, he will have several meetings with top leaders where political issues are likely to dominate as India gives importance to political stability, a diplomatic source told UNB.

He will have a bilateral meeting with Tofail Ahmed on 26 September where they will discuss issues of mutual interest between the two countries.

On the same day, Suresh Prabhu will have a meeting with civil aviation and tourism minister AKM Shahjahan Kamal to discuss potential areas of cooperation, an official told UNB.

He will meet president Abdul Hamid apart from his meetings with prime minister’s political affairs adviser HT Imam and Awami League general secretary and road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader.

The Indian minister will visit Bangabandhu Museum in the city to pay respects to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman during his stay in Dhaka.

There is a plan to take Indian minister to Tofail’s constituency as he desires to visit rural areas.

Suresh Prabhu will leave Dhaka on 28 September.