DHAKA: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka for Japan on Saturday midnight a four-day official visit for talks with her Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe to strengthen economic cooperation.

A Bangladesh Biman flight, carrying the premier and her entourage, departed Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 12:00am, according to sources of PMO.

After one and a half hour stopover at Hong Kang airport, the PM will arrive at the Haneda International Airport in Tokyo at 1:00pm Sunday where she is likely to be received by the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Japan and Shigeyuki Hiroki, Chief of Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

After arriving at Tokyo, Friends of Bangladesh will pay call on the Prime Minister at Akasaka Palace, where she will reside during the tour, on Sunday afternoon.

During the visit, she will meet the emperor of Japan, join bi-lateral summit, hold meetings with politicians, businessmen and interact with university students.

On Monday, she will be given guard of honor at Akasaka Palace and call by Fumio Kishida, Foreign Minister of Japan and the Members of Bangladesh-Japan Parliamentary League separately.

Then, Sheikh Hasina will also have an audience with Emperor Akihito at Tokyo Imperial Palace at 2:30pm Monday.

Later, the premier will join summit level talks at Japan Prime Minister’s Office on Monday to strengthen economic cooperation and followed the summit, Joint Statement Signing Ceremony and joint Press Announcement will be held.

On Tuesday, she will call by the President/VC of Waseda University and address at the Waseda University.

Later, the PM will join business seminar organized by Japan Bangladesh Committee for Commercial and Economic Cooperation (JBCCEC) at JETRO Headquarters.

On Wednesday, the Primer will interact with Japanese journalists at Japan Press Club and then give Interview with Japan’s national public broadcasting Organization, NHK.

Later, Tarō Asō, Deputy Prime Minister of Japan and President of Japan-Bangladesh Parliamentary League will pay call on the primer at Place of Residence.

She is likely to join a c community reception at Hotel Okura in Tokyo and then will leave for Bangladesh.

The daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, founding father also the first president of Bangladesh, visited Japan as prime minister in 1997 and 2010.

BDST: 0045 HRS, MAY 25, 2014