PM to leave for London Monday

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to leave for London on Monday to attend Girl Summit.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali made the disclosure at a press briefing on Sunday morning.

Earlier, the British government had invited Hasina to attend the Girl Summit which is to be held in London on July 22.

The PM is likely to discuss issues relating to democracy and governance, trade, aid and the diaspora with her British counterpart David Cameron during their bilateral talks in London.

On Thursday, a senior official of the Foreign Ministry told the Dhaka Tribune that British government has its own understanding about democracy and governance and Cameron might raise the issue during the bilateral talks.

Bangladesh and Britain have robust trade relationship under which Dhaka exports huge amount of readymade garment to the British market, he said.

Hasina has already made a visit to Japan and China and attended BIMSTEC summit meeting in Myanmar.

She is also invited by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit New Delhi.

The UK is hosting the first Girl Summit on July 22 aimed at mobilising domestic and international efforts to end female genital mutilation (FGM) and child, early and forced marriage (CEFM) within a generation. UNICEF is co-hosting the event.