Indonesian president arrives on two-day visit in Dhaka

Bangladesh rolled out a red carpet at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport as Indonesian President Joko Widodo arrived in Dhaka yesterday afternoon on a two-day visit. Widodo arrived in Bangladesh at the invitation of President Abdul Hamid.On his arrival at the airport by a special flight of Republic Indonesia at 4:20pm, the Indonesian president was received by his Bangladesh counterpart.A smartly turned out contingent comprising members of Bangladesh army, air force and navy gave guard of honour to the Indonesian president. He was welcomed with a 21-gun salute.Cabinet members, including Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Mohammed Shahriar Alam, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, and secretaries concerned to the President’s House, dean of the diplomatic corps and the chiefs of the three services were present.After the warm reception at the airport, the Indonesian president was taken to Sonargaon Hotel in a ceremonial motorcade where he is staying during the visit.He will visit Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar district today.Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali met the Indonesian President at Sonargaon Hotel at 6:30pm on Saturday.President Hamid hosted a dinner in honour of his Indonesian counterpart at the President’s Secretariat in the evening. Today, the Indonesian president will visit Savar National Mausoleum to pay homage to martyrs of Liberation War. He will also visit Bangabandhu Museum at Dhanmondi to pay respect to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Munibur Rahman.The Indonesian president will also have official talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today.Later, President Widodo will leave for Cox’s Bazar to meet Rohingya refugees. President Widodo will leave Dhaka for Afghanistan tomorrow morning.The Indonesian president will discuss bilateral, regional and global issues, including the Rohingya one, during his Bangladesh visit.