PM flies to Singapore today

Bangladesh and Singapore are set to sign six deals to boost economic cooperation, investment, public-private partnership and connectivity during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's four-day visit to the country beginning today.

Dhaka is putting high importance on the visit as the prime minister would seek support from Singapore, which is the current chair of the Southeast Asian countries' grouping ASEAN, for an early solution to the Rohingya crisis.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali said the visit is also “politically important” as it would also help mobilise support from Singapore for becoming “Sectoral Dialogue Partner” of the ASEAN.

“This visit will significantly contribute to increasing cooperation in various sectors including public-private partnership, air connectivity, trade, investment and energy,” Ali told a press briefing on Wednesday.

As per the programme schedule, the premier along with her entourage leaves Dhaka this morning on a VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines and reaches Changi Airport in Singapore at 2:45pm local time. She would stay at the Shangri-La Hotel during her visit.

Singapore would name an orchid in its Botanical Garden after the Bangladesh prime minister in her honour. According to tradition, all heads of states and governments making state/official visits to Singapore are provided with the opportunity to have a unique orchid named after them. The practice of naming orchids after visiting VVIPs has been in place for a few decades.

Hasina would be given a welcome reception by the Singapore government tomorrow. After the welcome reception, she would pay a courtesy call on the first female president of Singapore, Halimah Yacob, at Istana.

Official talks between Sheikh Hasina and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong would also take place tomorrow. Following the talks, the two countries are expected to sign six agreements/Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs).

The PM would address two business meetings of Bangladesh-Singapore Business Forum-2018 and Bangladesh-Singapore Business roundtable as the chief guest. Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, State Minister for Power and Energy Nasrul Hamid, senior government officials and a high-level business delegation would accompany her.

The deals to be signed include MoU on Collaboration of Investment activities in Bangladesh; MoU on Public-Private Partnership; Confidential MoUs to expand the Air Service Agreement; MoU on Digital Leadership, Innovation, and Digital Government Transformation; MoU between FBBCI and Singapore Manufacturing Federation to strengthen business relations and promote economic cooperation; and MoU between MCCI and Singapore Manufacturing Federation to strengthen business relations and promote economic cooperation.