Foreign minister skips PM’s Delhi visit due to illness

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka for New Delhi, India on Monday (September 5) morning on a four-day state visit at the invitation of her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen was supposed to accompany the premier as her entourage member but cancelled the visit due to illness at the eleventh hour.

A source at the foreign ministry confirmed the news.

“Dr Momen’s visit to Delhi was finalised as the premier’s entourage member. On Sunday (September 4), he himself told that he is going to Delhi with PM. But he didn’t go with PM as he was feeling ill today,” the source said.

Earlier, a VVIP chartered flight of the Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the Prime Minister and her entourage members departed the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka at 10am.

The flight is scheduled to arrive at the Palam Airport, New Delhi at 12pm (Bangladesh time) where the Bangladesh prime minister will be received by State Minister for Railways and Textiles of India Darshana Vikram and Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Muhammad Imran.

A red carpet will be rolled out at the airport in honour of Sheikh Hasina while a cultural team of 6-7 members will later perform a welcome dance and play musical instruments.

During her visit, cooperation on trade and energy, water sharing of common rivers and Rohingya issues are expected to be on top of the agendas.

The prime minister is expected to have talks with the Indian president, prime minister and vice president while several numbers of MoUs on different fields are expected to be signed during her India visit from today to September 8 after 2019, prior to the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic.