Red carpet will be rolled out to accord a warm and hearty welcome to Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani when he arrives in Dhaka at 3 pm today on a four -day state visit to Bangladesh.
The president will be accompanied by Madame Rafsanjani.
The distinguished visitors nearly 100-member entourage will include a 35-member official delegation, a number of private investors and a 21-member media team. Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. in a departure from protocol, will receive the Iranian head of state and Madame Rafsanjani at the Zia International Airport.
Welcome arches have been erected on the main roads in the capital to greet the visitors. National flags of Bangladesh and Iran and buntings inscribed with khosh amded have been displayed to greet the visitors.
Shortly after his arrival, the Iranian president will be accorded a ceremonial reception at the Bangabhaban by President Abdur Rahman Biswas and Begum Biswas. The visit, the first by an Iranian head of state, is being attached great political and economic significance. The existing economic and . trade relations between the two countries are expected to get a new boost and witness new horizons.
At least five memorandums of understanding (MOUs) are likely to be signed between the two governments. These range from cooperation in energy and manpower sectors to obtaining transit facilities through Iran and Turkmenistan for passage of Bangladeshi goods into Central Asian countries.
Minister for Foreign and Economic Affairs of Turkmenistan Baayraamoich is also scheduled to arrive in Dhaka, today leading a five-member delegation, to sign a trilateral MOU among Bangladesh. Iran and Turkmenistan. The proposed three-nation agreement will provide Dhaka transit facilities for passage of its goods, using Iranian ports, railways and roads, to-Turkmenistan and neighbouring CIS countries.
During the visit of the Iranian President, talks will
be held between leaders of the two countries on wide ranging bilateral issues for boosting trade and economic ties. Discussions will also be held on regional and International matters of common concern. The official level talks will be held at the International Conference Centre on October 11. President Rafsanjani and Prime Minister Khaleda Zia will hold exclusive discussions before the formal talks at the Prime Minister's office.
On Wednesday. President Rafsanjani will lay the foundation of a building at the Dhaka University which will house the University's Persian language and research centre.
On October 11, he will Inaugurate a seminar on Bangladesh-Iran trade cooperation at Hotel Sonargaon.
Senior Iranian government and trade officials are due to meet the representatives of the FBCCI and local business leaders.
The visiting President and his team members are due to fly to Chittagong on Thursday to inaugurate the Chittagong-Tehran Joint Chamber of Commerce. He will also visit the Export Processing Zone
and the Eastern Refinery.
The Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani after his arrival will drive to the Bangabhaban for a courtesy call on President Abdur Rahman Biswas where he will be given a ceremonial welcome.
He will be lodged at state guest-house Koratoa while other members of the entourage will be accommodated at the city's two leading hotels.
President Rafsanjani will be feted to a state banquet by President Abdur Rahman Biswas tomorrow evening while the Prime Minister will host a dinner In his honour at 30 Hare Road on Wednesday evening.
The Iranian President will visit the Savar mausoleum to pay tributes to the Liberation War martyrs on Tuesday morning.
He will hold a press conference at the International Conference Centre on Thursday evening after the signing of the MOU's at the same venue
On Friday President Rafsanjani will offer Juma pra yers at the Baitul Mukarram mosque and leave Dhaka the same afternoon at 3 pm