PM reaches Geneva

Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina reached Geneva Sunday afternoon to attend the 16th congress of World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the 64th World Health Assembly (WHA), reports BSS. On her arrival at the Geneva International Airport, the PM was received by Bangladesh Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Offices and other International Organisations in Geneva Md Abdul Hannan and his spouse. WHO representatives and high-level foreign ministry officials were present. Later, the Bangladesh Premier was taken by a ceremonial motorcade to Hotel Kempinsky where she will be staying during her visit to Switzerland. She would address the high-level segment of the WMO congress on May 16 and deliver a keynote address at the 64th WHA the next day. Apart from joining the two high-level programmes, Sheikh Hasina will hold talks with Director General of WTO Pascal Lamy, Microsoft Chairman Bill H Gates and Secretary General on Conference on Trade and Development Dr Supachai Panitchpakdi. According to the official schedule, the PM would leave Geneva on May 18 for Canada and then leave Canada on May 24 for France. She will address the launching programme of Global Initiatives on Girls' and Women's Education in Paris on May 26. Health Minister Dr AFM Ruhal Haque, PM's Health Adviser Dr Syed Modasser Ali, State Minister for Forests and Environment Dr Hasan Mahmud, Ambassador-at-Large M Ziauddin, Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, MP, Principal Secretary MA Karim, Foreign Secretary Mohamed Mijarul Quayes and Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad, among others, are accompanying the PM. The PM is expected to return home on May 28.