Swiss president pays respect to Bangabandhu

Visiting President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset has paid his respects to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Bangabandhu Museum in Dhanmondi in Dhaka. He placed wreaths on the portrait of Bangabandhu and took a tour of the museum on Monday. Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam, and Bangabandhu's grandson and Sheikh Rehana's son Rezwan Siddique Bobby accompanied him. Swiss Ambassador in Dhaka Rene Holenstein, among others, was also present. Later, the Swiss President signed the visitor's book at the museum. Swiss President Alain Berset also attended a high level Bangladesh-Switzerland Business Forum, along with Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal. Swiss President Alain Berset (R) taking a tour of the Bangabandhu Museum in Dhanmondi, Dhaka on February 5, 2018
FocusBanglaPresident Berset arrived in Dhaka on Sunday on a four-day official visit, the first official visit by any Swiss president to Bangladesh. He is scheduled for a visit Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar district on Tuesday. The Swiss Embassy in Dhaka said the visit is focused on solidarity with a country that is severely affected by the crisis in neighbouring Myanmar and the establishment of closer bilateral relations. Apart from underscoring the current status of bilateral relations, Bangladesh and Switzerland will discuss ways to further strengthen economic, development and cultural cooperation, according to the Swiss Embassy. Berset will visit the Kutupalong camp in the Cox's Bazar on Tuesday, where Switzerland provides humanitarian aid to Rohingyas refugees. During his stay in Bangladesh, Berset will meet civil society representatives, Swiss businessmen active in Bangladesh, and visit the Dhaka Art Summit, of which the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia is a partner. Bangladesh and Switzerland enjoy longstanding relations in the area of development cooperation. Bangladesh is a priority country in Swiss development cooperation.