PM flies to Rome this morning

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina leaves Dhaka for Rome this morning on a four-day official visit to join the upcoming meeting of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

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

Hasina will leave Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 9:55am by an Emirates flight and reach Fiumicino Airport, Rome around 6:45pm (local time).

She will be taken to Parco Dei Principi Grand Hotel in Rome where she will be staying during her visit. Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury and Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali will accompany the PM.

The premier will go to the Vatican City tomorrow morning where she will be given audience by Pope Francis.

She will also hold a meeting with Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and visit 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, she will attend the inaugural session of the governing council of the Rome-based IFAD.

Later, she will attend lunch to be hosted by IFAD President Gilbert F Houngbo in honour of the keynote speakers.

In the evening, she will join a community reception arranged by the local Awami League.

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

The PM will leave Rome on Wednesday afternoon and return home on Thursday morning.