Prime Minister holds talks with Swiss president
Published : 05 Feb 2018, 17:02
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Swiss President Alain Berset today joined in their bilateral talks a day after he arrived here on a four-day visit, the first by a Swiss head of the state since Bern recognized Bangladesh in 1972.
"The two leaders had a tete-a-tete and now they are holding the bilateral talks being aided by ministers and officials concerned," a Prime Minister's spokesman said.
Sheikh Hasina earlier received the Swiss President at the Tiger Gate of the Prime Minister's Office at 2:55 pm with a bouquet.
Officials earlier said Berset arrived here on Sunday to "express solidarity with Bangladesh, severely affected by the crisis in neighbouring Myanmar".
Switzerland recognised the independence of Bangladesh on March 13, 1972 while the Swiss embassy in a statement earlier said their president's visit also aimed to establish "closer bilateral relations".
Berset's official engagement began amid a meeting with Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali on Sunday evening.
Earlier today, the Swiss President laid wreaths at the National Memorial in Savar to pay homage to 1971 Liberation War martyrs and then he visited Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi and placed wreaths on the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to pay respect to the memory of the greatest Bangalee of all time.
Berset will hold official talks with his Bangladesh counterpart M Abdul Hamid at 7 pm today.
On Tuesday, Berset will visit the Kutupalong Rohingya camp in Cox's Bazar district.
Switzerland is providing humanitarian aid to the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals, who fled to Bangladesh from their Myanmar's Rakhine state homeland since an army led crackdown began there in August last year.
Officials familiar with his schedule said during his stay in Bangladesh, the Swiss President would also meet civil society representatives, Swiss businesses operating in Bangladesh and visit Dhaka Art Summit with Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia being its partner.
Source: bss