Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived in Thimpu, the Bhutanese capital, on a four-day official visit on Friday. This is Hasina's first visit to Bhutan and also her first bilateral visit to any South Asian country since she was elected as Prime Minister last December.

The Druk Air flight carrying the Prime Minister and her 28-member delegation touched the Paro international airport, some 54 kilometers from the capital city, at 1:15pm (local time). On her arrival, Sheikh Hasina was received at the airport by Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigme Y Thinley and his spouse. Bangladesh Ambassador to Bhutan AKM Majibur Rahman Bhuiyan and Bhutanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Dasho Bap Kesang were, among others, present. With a red carpet reception, the Prime Minister was then taken to a room of the VVIP lounge where she was presented Khaddar (traditional long scarf) by the Bhutanese Prime Minister. Bhutanese Ministers, senior government officials and heads of diplomatic missions and UN systems were also introduced with the Bangladesh Prime Minister by the Bhutanese Chief of Protocol.

Sheikh Hasina and the delegation were driven in a colourful motorcade to Hotel Taj Tashi in the capital city Thimphu. Several hundred Bhutanese students standing on two sides of the streets miniature with national flags of Bangladesh and Bhutan welcomed the Bangladeshi Prime Minister to the landlocked Himalayan country. Prime Minister's Adviser HT Imam, Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Industries Minister Dilip Barua and Commerce Minister Faruk Khan are in the delegation accompanying Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during the visit. On the first day of her official visit today (Friday), Hasina was scheduled to attend calls on by Bhutanese Foreign Minister Lyonpo Ugyen Tshering, Speaker of the Bhutan National Assembly Jigme Tshultim and Charman of the Bhutan National Council Namgye Penjore at her hotel suite. During the visit, the Prime Minister will be received in audience with His Majesty the King at Tashichhodzong tomorrow (Saturday) and she will attend a banquet to be hosted by the Bhutanese Prime Minister.

The two Prime Ministers are also scheduled to attend a joint press conference on Saturday. Sheikh Hasina and her entourage will return home on November 9. Besides, the Bhutan-Bangladesh bilateral trade agreement will be signed on Saturday while on the same day the Bangladesh Prime Minister will handover Bangladesh's earthquake relief assistance materials to her Bhutanese counterpart. Bhutan and Bangladesh enjoy good trade relations and the two countries have seen substantial increase in trade in the past 19 years. In 2008, the value of trade between the two countries was recorded at Nu (Bhutanese currency) 755.96m, the highest till date. The two South Asian nations have an historic relation as after the 1971 liberation war, Bhutan was the first country which officially recognized Bangladesh as an independent state. Diplomatic relations between the two countries was established in 1973 and resident missions set up in 1980.

-New Nation