Brunei Sultan arrives in Dhaka

Brunei Darussalam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah arrived in Dhaka on Saturday noon on a two-day state visit.

A special VVIP flight carrying him and his delegation landed at Hazrat Shahjalal (R) International Airport (HSIA) at 2.30pm.

President M Abdul Hamid along with some senior ministers and high civil and military officials received the Sultan.

The Brunei Sultan has been accompanied by the royal family members, ministers of various ministries of Brunei and high-level government officials.

Sultan Waddaulah is making his maiden tour to Dhaka at the invitation of the Bangladesh President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Personnel drawn from Bangladesh army, navy and air force offered him a guard of honour as part of the welcome ceremony at the airport.

In the afternoon, Foreign Minister Dr Abul Kalam Abdul Momen will meet him at the Meeting Room, Place of Residence.

The Sultan will hold a meeting with President Abdul Hamid at the Credential Hall of Bangabhaban in evening.

The Head of the State will host a state banquet and cultural function in honour of the Sultan at Banquet Hall (Durbar Hall).

On October 16, Sultan Waddaulah will visit Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi to pay homage to Bangladesh's founding Father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and will also sign a "Visitors' Book" there at about 10.15 am.

Bangladesh premier will receive Brunei Sultan at Tiger Gate of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) at 03:45 pm.

Brunei Sultan will hold restricted-level talks (tete-e-tete) with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Shimul of the PMO at 3:50 pm.

Later, a delegation-level talk with the Premier will be held at Chameli there.

Apart from the Sultan's other engagements during the visit, the Bangabhaban spokesman said, the three-day visit have special significance as some Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) or agreements will be signed at Korobi Hall there.

The MoUs and agreements include on bilateral aviation agreement, Bangladeshi manpower recruitment cooperation and the recognition of Mariners' certificates by the two countries.

He will leave Dhaka on October 16.