Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas makes stopover in Dhaka

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has arrived at Dhaka international airport for a “stopover” on his way to Japan from Jordan.

A spokesperson at the foreign ministry told bdnews24.com that the President’s special flight reached Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 12.45am early Sunday.

Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali received him at the VVIP terminal. They were scheduled to have a meeting there.

The Palestinian embassy earlier said this visit was in appreciation of Bangladesh’s continuous support to the Palestinian cause.

Bangladesh has consistently backed the demand of the Palestinian people for an independent and viable state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Dhaka also condemns the Israeli occupation, demanding Palestine’s “full membership” of the UN.

The embassy said, during the one-hour meeting, the most recent developments concerning Jerusalem, in particular, would be discussed along with the ongoing Israeli ‘persevering policy’, which, it said, had intensified since Sep 2015.

Other issues of mutual interest would also be discussed.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad al Malki, presidential spokesperson Nabil Abu Rodini, Special Advisor of Diplomatic Affairs Majdi al Khalidi, and Special Economic Advisor Mustafa Abu al Rob are among the President’s entourage.

Bangladesh’s State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid, and all the Arab Heads of Mission in Dhaka were also present at the airport to greet the President.