Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday arrived in male on her maiden six-day bilateral visit to Maldives at the invitation of Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
"A special VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her entourage members landed at the Velana International Airport at 3:00pm local time," said Prime Minister's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim.
Maldivian state minister for foreign affairs received the prime minister.
During her visit, four instruments including two memoranda of understanding are likely to be signed on Thursday.
The four proposed deeds are — Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income, Agreement on the Transfer of Prisoners, MoU in the areas of Health Care and Medical Sciences between Bangladesh and Maldives (renewal), and MoU between Bangladesh and Maldives on Cooperation in the Area of Youth and Sports Development.
Besides, the MoU on Recruitment of Qualified Health Professionals between Bangladesh and the Maldives will be renewed.
During the visit, Bangladesh will gift 13 military vehicles to the Maldives as a token of friendship between the two South Asian nations.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be formally received by the Maldivian president while a guard of honor will be accorded to the Bangladesh's head of the government.
On the same day, the Bangladesh prime minister will have a bilateral meeting with the Maldivian president to discuss various issues at the Presidential Palace.
After the meeting, officials concerned of the two countries will sign the instruments in the presence of the Bangladesh prime minister and the Maldivian president.
A joint statement will be issued while the two leaders will jointly appear in front of the media.
During the visit, Maldivian Vice-President Faisal Naseem, Speaker of the People's Majlis, Maldivian National Parliament, Mohammed Nasheed, and Chief Justice Uz Ahmed Muthasim Adnan are expected to pay courtesy call on the Bangladesh prime minister at the meeting room of Hotel Jen, Male.
The prime minister will address the Maldives parliament on Thursday afternoon.
In the evening, she is scheduled to attend a state banquet to be hosted by the Maldivian president and the country's first lady in her honour.
On Friday, the prime minister will join a virtual community reception to be accorded by the Bangladeshi expatriates in Male.
Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to reach Dhaka on December 27.
