India’s Commerce, Industry and Civil Aviation Minister, Suresh Prabhu, arrived in Dhaka on a five-day visit to discuss a number of bilateral issues, including trade.
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, accompanied by Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Harsh Vardan Shringla, received Prabhu upon his arrival at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 6:22pm on Monday, said an official, reports UNB.
Though Prabhu arrived at the invitation of Tofail, he will have important meetings with top leaders where political issues are likely to dominate,said diplomatic sources.
The Indian minister was scheduled to have his first meeting with the prime minister's Political Affairs Adviser HT Imam at 9pm on Monday.
Tofail and Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister AKM Shajahan Kamal will host a dinner in honour of Prabhu today.
He also attended a discussion on Bangladesh-India trade relations with business leaders.
Prabhu will hold a bilateral meeting with Tofail tomorrow morning at the state guesthouse Padma, where they will discuss issues of mutual interests.
Later that day, he will hold another meeting with Kamal, and discuss potential areas of cooperation.
He will also meet President Md Abdul Hamid on Thursday, followed by another meeting with Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, who is also the road transport and bridges minister, later in the evening.
Prabhu is scheduled to visit the Bangabandhu Museum on Thursday to pay respects to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
He will possibly visit Tofail's constituency - Bhola - as he desires to visit rural areas during his five-day trip. He will attend a civic reception there.
The Indian Minister will leave Dhaka on Friday morning.
