Wangchuck praises Hasina's role in international forums
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had an audience with ex-King of Bhutan Jigme Singye Wangchuck at his palace yesterday.
The two leaders discussed ways of enhancing the bilateral trade and business, and government-to-government and people-to-people contacts between the two friendly countries.
During the meeting, the monarch gave special thanks to Hasina for her strong and visionary leadership in the international forums for arranging international assistance for Bangladesh, Bhutan and other countries that are the worst sufferers of climate change due to global warming.
The visiting PM apprised the King that she at the upcoming Copenhagen climate meet will again inform the international community about the vulnerability of Bangladesh, Bhutan and other countries to the climate threats.
During the meeting, the premier and the former Bhutanese monarch, also discussed various other issues of national, regional and international development.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Deputy Press Secretary to the PM Nazrul Islam said the Bangladesh prime minister thanked the former king for voluntarily introducing democracy in Bhutan.
In reply, Jigme Singhe Wangchuck, father of the present King of the Himalayan Kingdom, told Hasina that democracy in Bhutan was not introduced suddenly in a day. Before establishing democracy, he had worked behind it for 20 years.
As Hasina recalled that Jigme Singhe Wangchuck in 1972, as the then young king of Bhutan, visited Bangladesh, he said his family has a familial relation with the family of Bangladesh's Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
"We still feel the familial relation and hope for further strengthening of the relations," the King said.
Hasina thanked Wangchuck for the warm royal receptions accorded to her since she arrived in Bhutan on November 6.
She also hoped that the present young king of Bhutan would be able to lead the Bhutanese people, including the young generation, onto the right path of development and prosperity.
Adviser to the PM HT Imam, Industries Minister Dilip Barua, Commerce Minister Faruk Khan and ambassador Ziauddin were among others present.
Later, Hasina visited Druk Wangyel, a big Buddhist temple located at Dochula height.
On her arrival at the vantage venue, the Bangladesh premier was received by Bhutanese Foreign Secretary Daw Penjore and President of the Center for Bhutan Studies Daso Karma Ura.
Then Hasina and her entourage were escorted to the temple built on top of the Himalayas range.
The PM was briefed about the history of the temple and chortens. Inside the temple, she presented a Buddhist scarf at the foot of the statue of Buddha and lighted a candle there.
Comments