PM leaves Washington for London to attend coronation of Charles III

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left here for London this morning to attend the coronation of Charles III and his wife Camilla as the king and the queen of the United Kingdom (UK) and the other Commonwealth realms.

A United Airlines flight carrying the prime minister and her entourage members departed from the Dulles International Airport in Washington DC around 11:30 local time, PM’s speech writer Md Nazrul Islam told BSS.

Younger daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and PM’s only sister Sheikh Rehana, is accompanying the prime minister.

Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA Muhammad Imran saw off the prime minister at the airport.

The flight is expected to land at the Heathrow International Airport in London at 23:40 (local time) on May 4 where Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem will receive the premier.

During her stay in London, she will also attend a programme of Commonwealth Leaders, an event fixed by the Cambridge University and a civic reception.

During her visit to US, the prime minister attended a programme marking 50 years of Bangladesh-World Bank partnership and several side events that include a roundtable with US business leaders and several meetings with WB’s incoming President Ajay Banga and Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Kristalina Georgieva alongside a civic reception.

She arrived in Washington DC on April 29 wrapping up her four-day official visit to Tokyo in Japan at the invitation of her Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida.

Earlier on April 25, a special chartered VVIP flight (BG1403) of the Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the prime minister and her entourage members landed at the Haneda International Airport, Tokyo at 4:45pm (local time).

Japan had rolled out a red carpet to welcome the Bangladesh prime minister and gave her state guard of honour at the airport.

During her visit to Japan, she signed eight instruments on agriculture, metro rail, industrial upgrade, ship recycling, customs matters, intellectual properties, defence cooperation, ICT and cyber security cooperation.

On April 26, Sheikh Hasina had a courtesy call on the Emperor of Japan Naruhito. Then on the same day, she held a bilateral meeting with her Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida after the signing of the deals.

The premier also attended an investment summit and a community reception alongside handing over the “Friends of Liberation War Honour” to four Japanese nationals on April 27 for their contribution to Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971.

The prime minister, as well, attended several additional bilateral meetings with Japanese foreign minister Yoshimasa Hayashi as well as leaders of JAICA, JETRO, JEBIC, JBPFL and JBCCEC.

She also had meetings with late former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s wife Akie Abe and Japanese architect Tadao Ando.

The prime minister is scheduled to reach Dhaka from London on May 9. (BSS)