Mahmoud Abbas leaves Dhaka

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina saw Mahmoud Abbas off at the airport and presented him with a bouquet. A special aircraft carrying the Palestinian president and his entourage left Dhaka airport at 2:45 pm, reports UNB. Earlier,  members of the armed forces gave a static guard of honour to the departing Palestinian head-of-state. Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam, PM's Principal Secretary Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, Senior PMO Secretary Suraiya Begum and Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque were also present at the airport. During his stay in Dhaka, Abbas called on President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban and led the Palestinian delegation to the official talks with Bangladesh at the Prime Minister's Office on Thursday, reports BSS. He also held a tete-a-tete with Hasina at the PMO on Thursday, while Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Begum Raushan Ershad called on the Palestinian president Friday. In addition, Mahmoud Abbas visited the National Mausoleum at Savar and placed wreaths in memory of the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for independence of Bangladesh in 1971. He also visited Bangabandhu Memorial Museum and paid homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. A Memorandum of Understanding on an Intergovernmental Joint Committee was signed between Bangladesh and Palestine in the presence of Hasina and Abbas. Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmoud Ali and Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al Maliki inked the MoU, which will facilitate regular foreign office consultations between the two countries. The Palestinian leader also attended a cultural programme followed by a dinner hosted by President Hamid at Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban on Thursday. The entourage of President Abbas included Palestinian Foreign Minister Dr Riad Al Maliki, Chief Justice Mahmuod SA Alhabbash, Presidential Spokesman Nabil Aburudainah, Adviser for Diplomatic Affairs Dr Majdi AM Khalidi, Chief Security Official Maj Gen Shehada Ismal, Chief of Protocol Ambassador Hussein Hussein and President's Physician Dr Naim Sadqi Hussein.