DHAKA: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has reached Kuala Lumpur at 4:00pm local time (BDST 2:00pm).

She is on a three-day official visit to the country in a bid to bolster bilateral relationship in trade and investment apart from expediting export of Bangladeshi manpower.

Malaysia deputy foreign minister Hamzah Zainuddin, deputy human resource minister Haji Ismail Haji Abdul Muttalib and Bangladesh high commissioner AKM Atiqur Rahman received the Bangladesh premier.

Earlier, a VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, carrying the premier, left the city’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 10:15am.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali on Tuesday said the premier will be visiting Malaysia at the invitation of her Malaysian counterpart Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak.

She is leading a 30-member delegation including Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Engineer Khandker Mosharraf Hossain, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon and State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal.

The premier will hold bilateral and restricted meetings with Razak and participate in discussion about the advantages of investment in Bangladesh. She is also expected to sign memorandums of understanding (MoUs) during the visit.

The premier will go to Hotel Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur after receiving Guard of Honour at the airport.

She will meet the Bangladeshi community members at her place of residence around 8:00pm (local time).

The second day’s proceedings will be started through attending the ‘Dialogue on Investment and Trade Opportunities in Bangladesh’ at 10:30am (local time) at Grand Hyatt Ball Room-2.

Sheikh Hasina will address the seminar where Malay South-South Association (MASSA) president Tan Sri Azman Hashim will deliver the opening speech at the dialogue while Bangladesh High Commissioner to Malaysia AKM Atiqur Rahman will deliver closing speech.

Later, Malaysian business leaders will exchange views.

After lunch, she will leave for Perdana Square, Malaysian Prime Minister’s Office at Putrajaya where Chief of Official Function Ceremony Dato’ Osman Mahmud will receive her around 3:00pm (local time) and will exchange greetings with Malaysia Prime Minister Dato Seri Mohammad Najib Tun Abdul Razak.

The two leaders will receive Guard of Honour after the National Anthem of Bangladesh followed by the National Anthem of Malaysia.

Malaysia premier Mohammad Najib Tun Abdul Razak will introduce Bangladesh premier with diplomatic corps in Malaysia. Later, they will stop for photo shoot and sign visitor’s book.

The two leaders, will then, participate in a restricted meeting at Prime Minister’s Office for 15 minutes.

Later, they will attend a bilateral meeting at Perdana Meeting Room and witness a signing ceremony.

After the signing ceremony, the premier will return to Hotel Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur.

Sheikh Hasina will attend the Official Dinner to be hosted by Malaysian Prime Minister in Honour of Sheikh Hasina at the Protocol Room of Seri Perdana Putrajaya at 8:00pm (local time).

Later on Thursday, Sheikh Hasina will leave Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) around 12:00pm.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia Dato Hamzah Zainuddin, Deputy Minister of Human Resources of Malaysia Dato’ Haji Ismail Haji Abdul Mutalib (Minister –in- attendance) and Bangladesh High Commissioner to Malaysia AKM Atiqur Rahman will see her off at the airport.

BDST: 1424 HRS, DEC 02, 2014