PM returns home from Italy

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina returned home yesterday morning from Milan concluding her four-day official visit to Italy at the invitation of her Italian counterpart Giuseppe Conte.

An Emirates Airlines flight carrying the prime minister and her entourage landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 8am.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus were, among others, present at the airport to receive the premier.

On her way back home, the prime minister made a two-hour stopover in Dubai.

Sheikh Hasina went to Milan from Italian capital of Rome on Thursday afternoon. She reached Rome on February 4 from Dhaka.

During the visit, the prime minister held a bilateral meeting with Giuseppe Conte at Palazzo Chigi, official residence of the Italian prime minister, in the Italian capital on February 5 and also joined an official lunch there.

The two leaders, at the nearly one-hour meeting, discussed bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction over the present state of economic cooperation between Bangladesh and Italy.

At the talks, the Italian premier pledged to provide one million Euros to help the Rohingyas in addition to existing assistance through the UNHCR.

Earlier in the morning, Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Chancery Building of Bangladesh embassy in Rome in Via Dell’Antartide area.

In the afternoon, representatives of the Italian business companies paid a call on the Bangladesh prime minister at the meeting room of her place of residence.

The prime minister then attended a dinner hosted by the Bangladesh ambassador to Italy at Parco dei Principi Grand Hotel and Spa.

On February 6, Sheikh Hasina had an audience with Pope Francis at the Holy See (Vatican City) near the Italian capital.

The premier attended a reception accorded in her honour by Italy chapter of Awami League at Parco dei Principi Grand Hotel and Spa in the evening of February 4.