President José Ramos-Horta of Timor-Leste is set to visit Bangladesh from 14-17 December, leading a high-level delegation of 19 members, including their foreign minister.
The president will participate in the Victory Day celebrations and hold significant diplomatic engagements, said Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin during a press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today (12 December).
He said Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus will formally receive Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
On the first day of the visit, President Ramos-Horta will hold a private meeting with the chief adviser, followed by a bilateral meeting at the representative level between the two countries. In the evening, he will attend a state dinner hosted in his honour.
On 16 December, the president will meet President Mohammed Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban. Additionally, he will pay tribute to the martyrs of Bangladesh’s Liberation War at the National Memorial in Savar and participate in the celebrations of Bangladesh’s 54th Victory Day.
Foreign Secretary Md Jasim Uddin shared further details of the visit, stating that on 17 December, President Ramos-Horta will deliver a public lecture titled “The Challenges of Peace in the Contemporary World,” organised by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS).
Later that day, he will address Bangladeshi students and youth, sharing insights from Timor-Leste’s independence struggle, his leadership experiences, the role of the people in their prolonged fight for freedom, and the aspirations and achievements of the Timorese people post-independence.
The foreign secretary also mentioned that the visit will include the signing of two important agreements, paving the way for a comprehensive partnership between Bangladesh and Timor-Leste. “These agreements are expected to enhance bilateral cooperation across various sectors, bringing mutual benefits to both countries.”
Furthermore, an announcement regarding the opening of an honourary consulate of Bangladesh in Timor-Leste is anticipated during the visit.
