PM flies to London today en route to Belarus
The change of the trip status means taxpayers will have to bear the expense of the visit by the premier and her 43-member tour party.
However, Hasina will not get any protocol or security from the British government during her five-day stay, from July 4 to 8, in London where she is expected to meet the British foreign minister and some lawmakers.
Hasina, who leaves for London this morning for an eight-day tour to two nations, added London en route to her bilateral visit to Belarus.
“This is basically her private visit to attend the wedding reception of her niece Tulip Siddiq, eldest daughter of Sheikh Rehana and granddaughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” said a senior official on condition of anonymity.
“But this trip turns into an official visit, as British Foreign Minister William Hague will call on her and hold breakfast meeting with the members of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Bangladesh,” the official added.
Labour Party politician and an elected councillor from London’s Regent Park, Tulip married a few months ago British civil servant Chris, who studied at Cambridge University.
The wedding reception is scheduled for Sunday (July 7), when Tulip’s aunt Sheikh Hasina will attend a private ceremony for family and friends.
She is not meeting the UK prime minister or having any bilateral meeting with any UK leader, but for the whole five days, the government will have to bear the cost of her 43-member entourage in expensive Hotel Hilton.
Official sources confirmed that this was neither prime minister’s bilateral visit nor she was on any invitation from the British government.
Asked, a senior official at the British High Commission in Dhaka yesterday told The Daily Star over the phone that there was no invitation from the British government and the Bangladesh prime minister was going to London on a private visit.
So, she (PM) will not get any protocol or security from the British government during her stays in London, the official added.
Reached by phone, a senior official of Bangladesh High Commission in London confirmed that the PM would not get British protocol or security as she would be on a private visit.
“But we informed the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office about the programme details of the visit,” he added.
Officials in Dhaka said a 15-member team of Special Security Force (SSF) would accompany the PM during her London visit.
A VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines (BG-015) carrying the Prime Minister and members of her entourage, including Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, will leave Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for London at 9:30am today.
On arrival at 2:50pm (London time), the premier will be received at Heathrow International Airport by Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Mijarul Quayes.
As per the programme book published by the Foreign Ministry, there is no mention of any British government official who will be present at the airport to receive the PM.
On the first day of her visit, UK Foreign Minister William Hague will call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her hotel suit at 6:30 pm (London time).
On Friday (July 5) evening, the prime minister will meet with Bangladeshi citizens living in UK at the hotel.
On Saturday (July 6), the Prime Minister will give an interview to Belarusian Television at 10:00am for half an hour.
On Sunday (July 7), she has no programme.
On Monday (July 8), the Prime Minister will hold breakfast meeting with the members of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Bangladesh at 9:00am for an hour.
The same day, Hasina will leave London for Belarus at 3:00pm (London time) for a four-day bilateral visit. Bangladesh High Commissioner Mijarul Quayes will see the Prime Minister off. Again, no British government official will be present at the airport at the time.
On arrival in Minsk International Airport by VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines (BG-006), Belarusian Prime Minister Mikhail V. Myasnikovich will receive the Bangladesh Prime Minister.
She will lead an 81-member Bangladesh team, including a 29-businessmen delegation. The businessmen usually travel with the Prime Minister at their own cost.
Source: The Daily Star