Hasina returns to Dhaka after visits to Saudi Arabia, UK

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has returned to Bangladesh after an eight-day trip to Saudi Arabia and the UK.

She landed in Dhaka aboard a Biman Bangladesh flight at 10:45am on Monday.

The prime minister left from London’s Heathrow Airport on Sunday night and was seen off by Bangladesh High Commissioner in London Md Nazmul Quanine.

Hasina flew to London last Monday after attending the closing ceremony of the multi-nation ‘Gulf Shield – 1’ military operation in Saudi Arabia.

During her stay in London the prime minister attended a meeting of leaders from British Commonwealth countries and held bilateral talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She also attended a courtesy meeting with Queen Elizabeth II and UK Prime Minister Theresa May.

Sheikh Hasina addressed the Commonwealth leaders on the Rohingya crisis and spoke of ensuring their rights in Myanmar,

The Commonwealth leaders discussed the crisis and called for justice for the Rohingyas through an independent investigation of the atrocities that have occurred in Myanmar. 

Sheikh Hasina was the keynote speaker at the Commonwealth Women’s Forum on Tuesday. She also delivered the keynote address at an event on international development and humanitarian issues organised by UK-based think-tank Overseas Development Institute.

The Bangladesh prime minister attended the Commonwealth Business Forum meeting on Wednesday. She also sat for a roundtable discussion with top business leaders led by UK Prime Minister Theresa May.

She then attended a formal dinner hosted by the UK prime minister.

On Thursday she went to Buckingham Palace to attend the official inauguration of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2018. Queen Elizabeth II inaugurated the event.

Hasina also attended several executive sessions with heads of state and government, met for bilateral talks with Indian Prime Minister Modi and had dinner at Buckingham Palace.

She attended three sessions of the Commonwealth summit on Friday and attended an Awami League organised event at Westminster Centre on Saturday.

In a speech she vowed to bring Tarique Rahman back to Bangladesh to face his jail sentence and said she had discussed his extradition with the UK government.

She also attended a birthday event for Queen Elizabeth II.

Sheikh Hasina had left Dhaka for Saudi Arabia on Apr 15.