Ban Ki-moon arrives tomorrow

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is scheduled to arrive tomorrow evening on a two-day official visit to the country.
During his visit, the secretary general is scheduled to hold discussions with the government and political leadership, and see for himself the development and disaster management programmes.
The talks Ban will be holding with the president, chief adviser and leaders of BNP and Awami League are expected to be dominated by the current political situation, especially the general election on December 18.
Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said yesterday that the UN secretary general's visit would be in recognition of various achievements made by the country.
Describing his visit as very important and significant one, the adviser said various issues, including social and economic development, UN development projects and Bangladesh's role in UN peacekeeping, will figure prominently during official talks with the secretary general.
Asked if Ban ki-moon's visit would lead to a positive development in domestic politics, the adviser replied, “A positive situation does prevail in the country.”
“Had there been no positive environment in the country, the UN secretary general would not visit Bangladesh,” Iftekhar Chowdhury said.
Ban is on a four-nation south east Asia tour to the Philippines, India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
According to UN officials, the secretary general arrives in Bangladesh tomorrow evening on board a special UN flight from Nepal.
UNDP officials in Dhaka said that Ban would be attending a state banquet to be hosted by Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed on Saturday evening. He is due to meet President Prof Iajuddin Ahmed, the Chief Adviser and Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury on Sunday.
Two separate delegations from BNP and Awami League are scheduled to meet the secretary general on Sunday when he is expected to make inquiries about the current political situation in the country, UN officials added.
During his visit, he is scheduled to visit a micro-financing programme of Grameen Bank in Bogra and a UN funded disaster reduction and climate adaptation programme in Sirajganj.
Ban will also meet with the United Nations country team and staff and officials of the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Dhaka.
Prior to leaving for New York, the UN secretary general will hold a press conference on Sunday evening.
The secretary general will be accompanied by his wife Madam Yoo (Ban) Soon-taek, and other senior UN officials, during his visit.
Ban Ki-moon of the Republic of Korea, the eighth Secretary General of the United Nations, brings to his post 37 years of service both in government and on the global stage.
Ban was his country's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade. His long tenure with the ministry included postings in New Delhi, Washington D.C. and Vienna, and responsibility for a variety of portfolios, including Foreign Policy Adviser to the President, Chief National Security Adviser to the President, Deputy Minister for Policy Planning and Director-General of American Affairs. He has long-standing ties with the UN, dating back to 1975, when he worked for the Foreign Ministry's United Nations Division.
Ban was born on 13 June 1944. He and his wife, Madam Yoo (Ban) Soon-taek, whom he met in high school in 1962, have one son and two daughters. In addition to Korean, Ban speaks English and French.