PM reaches Rome for IFAD meet

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reached Rome yesterday on a four-day official visit to Italy to join the upcoming meeting of the Rome-based International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

She is going to attend the meeting as one of its keynote speakers at the invitation of IFAD President Gilbert F Houngbo.

The PM and her entourage reached at Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport at 6:50pm (local time) via Dubai. Bangladesh Ambassador to Italy Abdus Sobhan Sikder and IFAD Vice-President Claudia Richter received the PM at the airport.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury and Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali are accompanying the PM.

Hasina will present the keynote paper at the meeting on Tuesday.

The premier this morning goes to the Vatican City where she will be given an audience with Pope Francis, following a guard of honour.

She will also have a meeting with Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and visit the Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter's Basilica.

In the evening, Hasina will join dinner to be hosted by the Bangladesh ambassador in Rome.

On Tuesday, the PM will attend the inaugural session of the Governing Council of IFAD and deliver her keynote paper.

Later in the day, she will join a community reception.

The theme of this year's IFAD council is “From fragility to long-term resilience: Investing in sustainable rural economies.”

The IFAD, an international financial institution and the UN specialised agency dedicated to eradicating poverty in rural areas of developing countries, has more than 30 years of working experience in Bangladesh.

The PM will return on February 16.