Warm welcome awaits Bangladesh premier in Calcutta

Sheikh Hasina’s visit was not intended to discuss any specific bilateral issue, but was aimed at promoting Indo-Bangladesh relations, he added.

On her arrival by a special Biman flight from Dhaka, Sheikh Hasina will hold a meeting with External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh who will airdash here from Delhi to discuss bilateral issues. Singh is expected to carry a message from Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for her, officials said.

She would inaugurate the 24th Calcutta book fair Wednesday afternoon, which has `Bangladesh’ as its focal theme. Prior to it, she will visit Baker Hostel in Calcutta University where her fatherSheikh Mujibur Rehman, founding father of Bangladesh, stayed during 1943-46.

The prime minister will be accompanied by her foreign minister Abdus Samad Azad and youth and cultural affairs minister Obaidul Qader.

During her stay, she will be accorded a civic reception in the city’s historic town hall, besides being conferred with Viswa-Bharati’s highest literary honour Deshikottama at Santiniketan.

Detailing her itinerary, Sami said Sheikh Hasina will fly to Santiniketan next morning, before visiting Churulia in Burdwan district to pay homage to the birthplace of Bangladesh national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.

The High Commissioner quoted a Viswa-Bharati communique which stated that the Deshikottama would be conferred on Sheikh Hasina “for her outstanding contribution as a global personality in forging relationship between countries, particularly in the sub-continent, and also as a leader working for human rights, specially for women, democracy and an author of distinction”.

Back inCalcutta, the Bangladesh premier will attend a dinner to be hosted by Chief Minister Jyoti Basu.

State Governor A R Kidwai will also host a banquet in her honour.

Sheikh Hasina will conclude her visit with a meet-the-press programme at Taj Hotel at 10:30 on January 29.