Bangladesh yesterday rolled out the red carpet for Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas as he arrived in Dhaka on a three-day official visit.

President Abdul Hamid and senior cabinet ministers received the Palestinian leader at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport as a 21-gun salute was fired to mark his arrival.

A special aircraft carrying Abbas touched down at the airport in the afternoon. Two children, Jeem and Namira, grandson and granddaughter of President Hamid, presented a bouquet to the Palestine president as he came down from the plane.

A joint contingent of army, navy and air force gave Abbas a guard of honour.

The entourage of Abbas includes Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad NA Maliki, Chief Justice Mahmuod Al-Habbash, Presidential Spokesman

Nabil Abu Rudeineh and Adviser for Diplomatic Affairs Majdi AM Khalidi.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, LGRD Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam were present, among others, at the airport to receive the Palestinian president.

After the reception ceremony, Abbas left the airport for Le Meridien Dhaka, where he will stay during his visit to Bangladesh, said a foreign ministry source.

This is Abbas' first official visit to Bangladesh. In February last year, he made a brief stopover in the capital on his way to Japan from Jordan.

The Bangabhaban in a statement said Abbas flew to Bangladesh yesterday on an invitation by President Hamid.

The two countries are expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the formation of a joint commission at the foreign ministry level.

The Palestinian president is scheduled to visit the National Memorial in Savar this afternoon. He will place wreath there to show respect to the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for Bangladesh's independence in 1971.

He would also visit the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in the capital's Dhanmondi to pay respect to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Abbas will make a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office in the afternoon.

Leader of the Opposition Raushan Ershad will have a meeting with the Palestine president.

In the evening, Abbas will hold a meeting with President Hamid at the Bangabhaban. Later, he would attend a cultural programme followed by a dinner hosted by Hamid at the Darbar Hall of the presidential palace.

The Palestinian president is scheduled to leave Dhaka tomorrow.

FM MEETS ABBAS

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali yesterday reiterated Bangladesh's stance on continuing its support to the cause of Palestine and expanding bilateral cooperation in days to come.

He made this statement during a courtesy call on the visiting Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas at Hotel Le Meridien, said a press release.

"Bangladesh will continue to offer scholarships to the Palestinian students in medical and other disciplines as well as training opportunities to the Palestinian armed forces officials in Bangladesh," the foreign minister assured Abbas.