PM’s China visit not shortened; programmes unchanged: Minister

Online Desk

Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ongoing official China visit has not been shortened, but she is returning home tonight to give time to her ailing daughter Saima Wazed.

“There has been no change in her official engagements. She was supposed to stay in Beijing tonight. But she is returning to spend time with her daughter,” he told reporters, UNB reports.

Hasan said that Saima Wazed, who is the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for South-East Asia, was supposed to be part of the visit but she could not as she fell sick on July 8 morning.

Saima Wazed is still unwell, he added.

Prime Minister Hasina will leave Beijing for Dhaka tonight, wrapping up her bilateral visit to China.

A special flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the Prime Minister and her entourage will depart Beijing Capital International Airport at 10:00 pm (local time) tonight and is scheduled to land at 1:00 am (Bangladesh time).

The premier was earlier scheduled to leave Beijing for Dhaka on Thursday morning.

During her stay in Beijing from July 8 to 10, the Bangladesh Prime Minister had a delegation level bilateral meeting with her Chinese counterpart Li Qiang today.

bd-pratidin/GR