PM returns home

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina returned home this afternoon after concluding her three-day official visit to Indonesia.

A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying the Prime Minister and members of her entourage landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 3.05 pm.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina went to Jakarta on Monday to join the Leaders' Summit of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).

In the sideline of the Summit the Prime Minister held bilateral meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and State Minister of UAE Dr. Maitha Salem Al-Shamsi and discussed the issues relating to mutual interests.

Speaking at the Summit Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday urged Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) leaders to dedicate themselves to strengthening maritime cooperation for a peaceful and prosperous Indian Ocean.

The premier particularly proposed setting up of a maritime university in Bangladesh to be called Indian Ocean Technical and Vocational University to create a pool of skilled mariners for the region.

In the meeting with Joko Widodo, the Bangladesh Prime Minister requested the Indonesian president to play a role in sending back the Myanmar refugees from Bangladesh.

"Myanmar refugee issue has emerged as a big problem for Bangladesh and it needs to be resolved," the prime minister said.

In the meeting with President Maithripala Sirisena, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka agreed to expedite the process for signing Free Trade Agreement (FTA)to boost bilateral trade.

During the meeting with State Minister of UAE Dr. Maitha Salem Al-Shamsi,Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged him to make the visa regime of his country easier for the Bangladeshi nationals, especially for business persons.

Source: BSS