Turkish PM in city, visits Rohingya camps tomorrow

Binali Yildirim

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim arrived in the city on Monday night on a two-day official visit at the invitation of his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina to discuss Rohingya and other issues, reports UNB.

The Turkish PM is leading a 21-member delegation, including his daughter Busra Koylubay, Chief Foreign Policy Adviser Kerim Uras, Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag and Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmet Yildiz, an official here told UNB.

Representatives from a number of organisations, including Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) and the Turkish Red Crescent, are also there in the delegation.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali received the Turkish Prime Minster at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport upon his arrival at 8:45pm.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam and Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque were also present.

On Tuesday morning, Yildirim will visit National Mausoleum in Savar and pay respect to the Liberation War martyrs placing wreaths. The Turkish Prime Minister will sign visitors' book and plant a sapling there.

He will then visit Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhanmondi from 10:40 am to 11:10am. He will sign visitors' book there after placing wreaths and paying respect to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The official talks, including signing of a number of deals/MoUs, between the two countries will be held from 3pm to 4:20 pm at the Prime Minister's Office.

After his meeting with Sheikh Hasina, he will meet President Abdul Hamid on Tuesday evening. The Prime Minister will host banquet, preceded by cultural programme, in honour of her Turkish counterpart at the Ball Room of Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel at 8pm on Tuesday.

He will visit Kutupalang camp in Cox's Bazar tomorrow (Wednesday) to see Rohingya situation on the ground after his official meetings in Dhaka, including bilateral meeting, with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

During the visit, the relations between Bangladesh and Turkey, which is based on friendship and brotherhood, is expected to be discussed comprehensively, according to Turkish media.

The Turkish Prime Minister will leave here for home straight from Cox's Bazar at 2pm on Wednesday.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali will see him off at Cox's Bazar airport. Some 655,000 Rohingyas have crossed from Myanmar into Bangladesh since August 25.