PM Hasina reaches Italy to attend IFAD conference

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has reached Italy, where she will attend a conference of the International Fund of Agricultural Development or IFAD.

Reazul Bashar from Romebdnews24.com
Published : 11 Feb 2018, 05:22 AM
Updated : 12 Feb 2018, 03:23 AM

The Emirates Airlines carrying her landed at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci International Airport at 6:50pm local time.

Bangladeshi Ambassador Abdus Sobhan Sikder and IFAD Vice-President Claudia Richard received her at the airport.

The prime minister then went to the Hotel Parco Dei Principi Rome, where she will be staying her during her visit.

The four-day visit comes at the invitation of IFAD President Gilbert F Houngbo and Pope Francis, Foreign Affairs Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali had said.

“We believe that Hasina’s presence will inspire member states to engage in a constructive discussion and will brighten up Bangladesh’s image on the global platform,” he said at a press conference on Thursday.

Hasina will go to Vatican City on Feb 12, where she is due to hold meetings with Pope Francis and Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.

The Pope visited Bangladesh in November, when he met a group of Rohingya refugees in Dhaka.

“Hasina’s visit to Vatican City soon after Pope’s visit to Bangladesh will strengthen ties between the countries. This will also help create a congenial environment for Bangladeshi immigrants in Christian countries,” Minister Ali said.

Hasina is expected to present the keynote paper at the inaugural session of the IFAD governing council conference at IFAD headquarters on Feb 13.

This year’s theme for the conference is “From Fragility to Long-term Resilience: Investing in Sustainable Rural Economies”.

Hasina will highlight Bangladesh’s achievements, the government’s initiatives in strengthening rural youth, the importance of investment in improving the living standards of a poverty-stricken populace, and the initiatives of the local government to empower rural inhabitants.

Formed in 1977, the IFAD is a financial institution of the United Nations. It aims to alleviate poverty by upgrading agriculture and improving living standard of grassroots people in developing nations.

The IFAD had been working with the Bangladesh government for the past 30 years, said Ali.

“The first deal IFAD struck with Bangladesh was in 1978, when it provided $782 million in aid which benefitted over 40 million people through different development projects.”

Bangladeshi immigrants in Rome will host a reception for Hasina on Tuesday. The premier is expected to fly for Dhaka on Feb 15.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith and Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury are among Hasina’s entourage.