Hasina to meet Pope Francis in Vatican City

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will meet Pope Francis during her official visit to Vatican City and Italy from Feb 12 to Feb 14.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 8 Feb 2018, 03:40 PM
Updated : 8 Feb 2018, 03:48 PM

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali told reporters on Thursday she will leave Dhaka on Feb 11 with her entourage that includes him and Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith and Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury.

“On Feb 12 she will visit the Vatican City where she will meet the pope." He added this meeting on the heel of the pope’s visit to Bangladesh in November last year would strengthen the relations.

The prime minister’s visit to Italy is mainly for attending the 41st Session of the IFAD Governing Council.

The foreign minister said IFAD President Gilbert Houngbo invited him to the meeting where she will present the keynote paper on Feb 13.

The IFAD or International Fund for Agricultural Development is a specialised agency of the United Nations that finances agricultural development projects primarily for food production in the developing countries.

‘From fragility to long-term resilience: investing in sustainable rural economies’ is the theme of this year’s meeting.

The prime minister will return home on Feb 15.