Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia is expected to leave Dhaka for Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, on October 14 as the head of Bangladesh delegAtfon lo the 11 th Commonwealth heads of government meeting being held there from October 16 to 22, reports BSS.

This will be the first international conference that Begum Zia will be attending as the head of a democratically-elected government.

He contributions will have special bearing in the Commonwealth context one of whose core values is to promote democracy and respect for human rights, an official release said.

Begum Zia will be one of the selected few heads government to be called upon to reply to the address of welcome by the host President Robert

Mugabe. She is also likely Lo make contributions to other agenda items through intervention.

The Prime Minister’s entourage will include Foreign Minister ASM Muslafizur Rahman, Parliament Members Begum Raushan Elahi, Ahsanul Huq Mollah, and Sardar Sakhawat Hossain Bakul, Foreign Secretary Rcaz Rahman, and Additional Secrctary-in-charge of Prime Minister's Secretariat Dr Kamaluddln Siddiqi. Bangladesh High Commissioners in London and Harare have also been included in the Prime Minister's entourage.

This year's conference is being held in the backdrop of momentous changes in global politics.

The main thrust of the conference will be a concerted attempt by the heads of government to chalk out a more active and dynamic role for the Commonwealth in the 199Os and beyond.

The meeting will also discuss South Africa where apartheid Is being slowly dismantled. Global issues such as environment human rights and drugs will also figure prominently in the summit discussions.