Dhaka, December 07: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s scheduled India visit from December 19 has been deferred by a month after a request from New Delhi citing her counterpart Mamohan Singh’s engagements in Copehagen climate summit, the government said here on Monday.
“The visit has been rescheduled … the fresh date is yet to be fixed but the tour is expected to take place on January 10 or 11,” Foreign Minister Dipu Moni told a press briefing.
She said a sudden engagement of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Copenhagen meet, also to be joined by Sheikh Hasina, required the deferral.
The Foreign Minister said Singh decided to attend the climate meet at the last minute while a scheduled meeting of the summit leaders on December 18 would make it difficult for the Bangladesh and Indian premiers to meet in New Delhi on the scheduled date.
Replying to a question, she said the visit, to be the first by Sheikh Hasina since her Awami League government assumed office after the landmark December 29, 2008 general elections, was deferred on a request from New Delhi in view of the situation.
She, however, said the deferral would allow Bangladesh to be better prepared for the talks as Dhaka-New Delhi relation was a “comprehensive one” having a wide range of issues, while the visit was a unique opportunity to enhance the ties for mutual benefit.
–PTI