PM leaves for Australia today

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will start a three-day official visit to Australia today (Thursday) at the invitation of her Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull, reports UNB.

During her stay in Australia from April 27 to 29, she will receive the Global Women's Leadership Award at the 2018 Global Summit of Women and hold a bilateral meeting Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

A Thai Airways flight carrying the Prime Minister and her entourage will take off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for Sydney, Australia at 1:35pm today (Thursday).

The flight is scheduled to reach Sydney International Airport at 7:20am on Friday (local time) after making a two-hour stopover at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Thailand, Bangkok.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to Australia Mohammad Sufiur Rahman will receive the Prime Minister at the Sydney airport.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroze Chumki, Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque and a women business delegation will, among others, accompany the Prime Minister during the visit.

On Friday (April 27), Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Vietnam Vice President will call on Sheikh Hasina.

The Prime Minister will attend Global Women's Leadership Award Gala Dinner at International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney on Friday evening and will receive the Global Women's Leadership Award there.

Sheikh Hasina is being honored with the award, a lifetime honour, for her outstanding leadership in advancing women education and women entrepreneurs in Bangladesh, Asia and Asia-pacific region.

At the event, she will deliver her speech highlighting women empowerment, equal rights, bringing women in the mainstream of development, steps taken by the government and achievements made so far.

There will also be a brief introduction of Sheikh Hasina and a short video presentation on her there.

The award will be conferred on Sheikh Hasina by US-based NGO Global Summit of Women in Sydney during 2018 Global Summit of Women to be held on April 26-28 in Sydney.

It is a business Summit, the 'business' focus on which is on women's advancement in the global economy. For over 27 years, the Summit has been connecting women worldwide.

The Prime Minister on Saturday (April 28) will visit Sydney University, hold a bilateral meeting with her Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull and attend a community event at Sofitel Hotel in Sydney.

Sheikh Hasina will leave Sydney on Sunday (April 29) afternoon and return home in the early hours of Monday (April 30).