PM returns home

Desk Report: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has returned home concluding her four-day official visit to Italy and Vatican City.

An Etihad Airways flight carrying the premier and her entourage members landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at around 8:15pm on Saturday.

Earlier, the prime minister departed Abu Dhabi International Airport for Dhaka at 1:35pm (Abu Dhabi time).

Bangladesh Ambassador to the UAE Mohammad Imran saw the prime minister off at the airport.

On her way home from Rome, Sheikh Hasina made a stopover in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi for two days.

In Italy, she attended the annual governing council meeting of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) at the invitation of IFAD President Gilbert F Houngbo.

At an invitation of Pope Francis, the prime minister also visited the Holy See (Vatican City) and held meetings with the Pope and Secretary State of Vatican City Cardinal Pietro Paroline.

On the sidelines of the IFAD Governing Council Meeting, IFAD President Gilbert F Houngbo and World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director David Beasley separately called on Sheikh Hasina.

The prime minister joined a mass reception in Rome oraganized by Italy chapter of Bangladesh Awami League.

During her visit, Bangladesh and the IFAD signed a loan agreement of 92.03 million US dollars for the uplift of the vulnerable rural people of six northeastern districts of the country._BSS

risingbd/Dhaka/February 17, 2018/A K Azad