PM leaves Rome for home after Italy visit

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday morning left here for home wrapping up her visit to Italy.

A regular flight of Qatar Airways, carrying the premier and her entourage members, departed Rome Fiumicino Airport at 09:40am local time (01:40pm BST).

The flight is scheduled to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) at 02:05am after making a stopover at Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar.

Hasina travelled to Rome on June 23 to attend the United Nations Food Systems Summit+2 Stocktaking Moment (UNFSS+2) at the invitation of the United Nations (UN) Secretary General António Guterres.

Some 2000 participants from over 160 countries, including over 20 Heads of State and Government, attended the July 24-26 UNFSS+2.

The prime minister delivered her address at the opening ceremony of the conference as a special guest speaker, addressed its plenary session titled “Food Systems and Climate Action” and opened Bangladesh-Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Room at the FAO headquarters on July 24.

Besides, Hasina held a bilateral meeting with her Nepalese counterpart Pushpa Kamal Dahal at newly opened Bangladesh-Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Room in the FAO Headquarters on the sideline of the UN Food Systems Summit.

Three Italian Ministers -agriculture minister Francesco Lollobrigida, interior minister Matteo Piantedosi and justice minister Carlo Nordio met her at FAO Headquarters.

FAO Director General Qu Dongyu, President of International Fund of Agricultural Development (IFAD) Alvaro Lario and World Food Programme (WFP) executive director Cindy Hensley McCain separately met her on the same day.

On July 25, Sheikh Hasina held a bilateral meeting with her Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni. Two Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs)- “Cooperation in the Field of Energy” and “Cultural Exchange Programme” were exchanged between Bangladesh and Italy in the presence of the two leaders.

The primer attended the “Conference of Bangladesh Envoys in Europe,” which was held at her place of residence with participation of Bangladeshi envoys stationed in 15 European countries.

Sheikh Hasina also addressed a community event hosted by the expatriate Bangladeshis in Italy on July 25. (UNB)