Prime Minister Hasina leaves for Brunei

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has left for Brunei on a three-day official visit to the Kingdom at the invitation Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah.

A VVIP flight of Bangladesh Biman took off with the Prime Minister and her delegation around 8am from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Sunday.

The government hopes that the trip will pave the way for investment opportunities with Brunei and bolster bilateral ties through the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).

She is scheduled to reach the Brunei International Airport at Bandar Seri Begawan at 1pm BdST.

Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzak, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, Private Sector Industries and Investment Adviser to the Prime Minister Salman F Rahman, State Minister for Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Imran Ahmad, State Minister for Sports Zahid Ahsan Russel, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid Bipu, State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Ashraf Ali Khan Khasru and State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid have accompanied the prime minister on the trip.

Awami League's International Affairs Secretary Shammi Ahmad, Organising Secretary Ahmed Hossain, former principal secretary Abdul Karim and Bangabandhu Memorial Museaum Curator Nazrul Islam Khan are also part of the delegation along with the Prime Minister’s Office Secretary Sajjadul Hasan, Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim and Military Secretary Maj Gen Mia Mohammed Zainul Abedin.

A contingent of business leaders, including BCCI President Shafiul Islam, MCCI President Nihad Kabir, BGMEA President Siddiqur Rahman are also travelling with the prime minister.

Hasina, who is travelling to the country at the invitation Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, is expected to be received at the airport by Crown Prince of Brunei Darussalam Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah.

The two countries are expected to sign six MoUs in the fields of agriculture, art and culture, youth and sports, fisheries, livestock and energy during the visit, according to Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen.

After the official reception, a ceremonial motorcade will escort the prime minister to the Empire Hotel and Country Club, where she will be staying during her visit, according to her itinerary.

On the first day of her visit, she will join a community reception to be hosted in her honour by expatriate Bangladeshis in Brunei at the Indera Samudera Ballroom of Empire Hotel and Country Club.

She will also attend a dinner hosted by the high commissioner of Bangladesh to Brunei on the same day.

On Monday morning, she will have a general audience with Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and Royal family members at Cheradi Laila Kenchana at the Istana Nurul Iman, the official residence of the Sultan.

After the audience, the Bangladesh-Brunei bilateral talks will be held which will be followed by the signing ceremony of the MoUs.

On Thursday, the foreign minister told a media briefing that the deals will bolster the trade ties between the two countries with Brunei having the capacity to invest in different sectors in Bangladesh. The trade between the two countries currently stands around $1 million.

The two premiers will also discuss the issue of Rohingya refugees as Brunei is a member of the South-East Asian countries’ grouping ASEAN, which holds influence over Myanmar.

Momen said the discussion will centre on the safe repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar from Bangladesh.

He added that both sides have already finalised six agreements while another is under consideration.

“We are hopeful of securing investments from Brunei,” said Momen.

Md Kamrul Ahsan, secretary (bilateral) to the foreign ministry, echoed the minister and highlighted Brunei’s status as a major investor on the world stage.

“They can invest in our agriculture and food processing sectors as well as import food from here based on their needs,” he said, adding that Brunei can also spend on big infrastructure projects in Bangladesh.

“This is a huge opportunity,” he said, emphasising the significance of the visit.

On Monday, the prime minister will join a meeting between the business communities of the two countries and the Brunei National Chamber of Commerce and Industry at Empire Hotel and Country Club.

She will also visit Jame Asr Mosque and offer the Asr prayers there.

She will attend an official banquet to be hosted in her honour by the Sultan at Istana Nurul Iman.

On Tuesday morning, the prime minister will lay the foundation stone of the new Chancery Building of Bangladesh High Commission at the Diplomatic Enclave at Jalan Kebangsaan in Brunei capital. Later, she will visit the Royal Regalia Museum.

Hasina will leave Brunei at 5pm local time on Apr 23 and arrive in Dhaka later in the evening.