PM accorded red carpet reception in Bhutan

A red carpet was rolled out as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reached at Paro International Airport in Thimphu on a three-day state visit.

Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and Bangladesh Ambassador in Thimphu Jishnu Roy Choudhury received the prime minister at the airport.

Two tiny tots presented bouquets to the prime minister.

At the airport, the prime minister was given a guard of honour by a smartly turned out contingent of the Bhutanese Armed Forces while National Anthems of the two countries were played during the time. Sheikh Hasina took salute and inspected the guard.

Later, the Bhutanese prime minister introduced her Cabinet colleagues in the presentation line with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina while the Bangladesh premier also introduced dignitaries in the Bangladesh presentation line with the Bhutanese prime minister.

From the airport, Hasina was taken to her place of residence Hotel Le Meridien Thimphu in a ceremonial motorcade where she was received by chairman of Royal Privy Council of Bhutan Lyonpo Chenkyab Dorji.

Earlier, Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka for Thimphu by a Druk Air VVIP flight which took off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport here for Thimphu at 10:50 am.

The flight reached Paro International Airport in the Bhutanese capital at 11:35 am (Local time).

The autism conference is going to be held at the initiative of Saima Wazed, member of WHO's expert advisory panel on mental health and chairperson of the National Advisory Committee on Autism. She took the initiative to hold the conference in Thimphu at WHO's request.

Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and Bangladesh Ambassador in Thimphu Jishnu Roy Choudhury will receive Hasina at the airport.

Later, the prime minister will be given a guard of honour.

From the airport, Hasina will be taken to her place of residence Hotel Le Meridien Thimphu in a ceremonial motorcade where she will be received by chairman of Royal Privy Council of Bhutan Lyonpo Chenkyab Dorji.

In the afternoon, the prime minister will be ceremonially received at Tashichhodzong, the Royal Palace. She will then be given a guard of honour.

Later, the prime minister will have an audience with Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema at the Royal Palace.

Hasina then will have a meeting with her Bhutanese counterpart Tshering Tobgay at Gyalyong Tshogkhang. The meeting will be followed by signing of MoUs by two countries.

The prime minister will attend a banquet at Royal Banquet Hall to be hosted in her honour by the Bhutanese prime minister.

Tomorrow morning, Hasina will join the opening ceremony of the autism conference as the 'guest of honour'.

She will attend the welcome lunch to be hosted by the Bhutanese Prime Minister in honour of the participants of the conference at Courtyard, Gyalyong Tshokhang.

In the afternoon, she will chair the high-level discussion titled 'Enabling countries to successfully address autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders as part of their Sustainable Development Goals'.

The prime minister will join a private dinner to be hosted by the Bhutanese King and Queen at Lingkana Palace.

Hasina will return home on Thursday morning.