50yrs of Independence: Nepal president arrives today

Nepal's President Bidya Devi Bhandari is arriving in Dhaka today on a two-day visit to attend the celebrations of Mujib Borsho and golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence.

She will be the third of the world leaders visiting Bangladesh after the Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa who joined the mega event that began at the National Parade Square on March 17.

This is the first presidential visit by Nepal to Bangladesh. Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid visited Nepal in November 2019.

President Hamid will receive his Nepalese counterpart Bhandari at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 10:00am. After receiving a 21-gun salute, she will be given a guard of honour.

From the airport, the Nepalese president will visit the National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar to pay tribute to the Liberation War heroes by placing wreaths. She will sign the visitors' book there and plant a sapling.

She will also visit Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhanmondi to pay tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The Nepalese delegation accompanying the president will consist of Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali and secretaries and senior officials of the ministry, the Office of the President and other relevant ministries.

President Bhandari will deliver a speech titled "Nepal-Bangladesh Relations and Bangabandhu's Birth Centenary" at the celebrations this afternoon.

She will also hold talks with President Hamid at the Bangabhaban. Several MoUs are expected to be signed between the two countries on tourism, cultural exchange, trade, and connectivity.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen are scheduled to call on the Nepalese president.

President Bhandari is also scheduled to visit the Embassy of Nepal, meet its nationals in Bangladesh and attend a luncheon to be hosted by the Nepalese ambassador in Bangladesh.

She will return home Tuesday afternoon. Foreign Minister Momen will see her off at the airport.

Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering is scheduled to arrive tomorrow and Indian Prime Minster Narendra Modi on March 26.