Hasina visits Turkish Topkapi museum, Blue Mosque

ISTANBUL, May 08 (BSS): Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina Saturday visited the historic Topkapi Palace Museum and Sultanahmet Camil (Blue) Mosque in the Turkish capital. The Bangladesh PM and members of her entourage arrived at the museum at around 10 am (local time) when Prof Dr Ilber Ortayli, director of the museum and other senior officials received Sheikh Hasina at the entrance of the museum. Later, the Prime Minister went round different sections of the museum, which was the official and primary residence in the city of the Ottoman Sultans for approximately 400 years (1465-1856) of their 624-year reign. During her visit, the Bangladesh Premier was briefed on the museum by the director of the museum. The Topkapi Palace Museum, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 contains the most holy relics of the Muslim world such as cover, sword and foot print of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SM). The palace is full of examples of Ottoman architecture and also contains large collections of porcelain, robes, weapons, shields, armour, Ottoman miniatures, Islamic calligraphic manuscripts and murals, as well as a display of Ottoman treasure and jewellery. Later, the PM visited the Sultan Ahmed Mosque popularly known as the Blue Mosque as the blue tiles adorn the walls of its interior. The mosque, which is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the modern world, was built between 1609 and 1616, during the rule of Ahmed I. Minister for Planning AK Khandker, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Dipu Moni, Industries Minister Dilip Barua, Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the UN Dr Abdul Momen, Ambassador at Large M Ziauddin, Bangladesh Ambassador to Turkey Md Zulfiqar Rahman, PM's Principal Secretary MA Karim and Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad, among others, accompanied the Prime Minister During her visit to the two historic places.