Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)– Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee arrived in Dhaka Saturday night on a two-day official visit to attend the closing ceremony of the joint celebrations of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
A special flight carrying Mr. Mukherjee touched the ground at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at around 9:30 pm (local time) where Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad and Prime Minister’s Advisers Dr Gowher Rizvi and Dr Moshiur Rahman, and Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pankaj Saran received him.
Apart from joining the 150th birth anniversary celebration of the poet Tagore, the veteran politician will also hold talks on bilateral issues that proved crucial to improve Dhaka-Delhi ties further.
The issues such as water sharing, trade and investment, and regional connectivity are likely to dominate discussions.
The Indian Finance Minister is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at 12.20 pm on Sunday at Ganabhaban in Dhaka.
Mr. Mukherjee will start his day with Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith at a breakfast meeting at Sonargaon Hotel at 8.30 am. Later, he will join Tagore’s programat Bangabandhu International Conference center (BICC) in the capital.
An Indian cultural delegation, including Sharmila Tagore, Pabitra Bhushan Sircar and a dance drama group from the Sangeet Natak Academy, will participate in the function.
The Indian Finance Minister will hold official talks at Ganabhaban before meeting with Bangladesh Premier Sheikh Hasina.
Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni is also scheduled to hold talks with the Indian Finance Minister at 3:00 pm at Sonargaon Hotel.
After that, Mr. Mukherjee will interact with editors of print and electronic media.
He is also scheduled to meet Leader of the Opposition and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.
The Indian Finance Minister is accompanied by a seven-member official delegation and a media team.
He will leave Dhaka for New Delhi at 5:30pm on Sunday.
BBN/SSR/AD-05May12-11:57 pm (BST)
