Bangladesh today (Oct 15) rolled out the red carpet to welcome Brunei Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah as he arrived here on a three-day state visit.

A special VVIP flight carrying Sultan, his family members, cabinet members and officials landed at Hazrat Shahjalal (R) International Airport in Dhak around 2:30pm.

President Abdul Hamid received him at the airport. Brunei Sultan has also been honoured with 21-gun salutes.

Sultan Waddaulah has made his maiden tour to Dhaka at the invitation of the Bangladesh President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Personnel drawn from Bangladesh army, navy and air force offered him a guard of honour as part of the welcome ceremony at the airport, from where he would be escorted to the National Martyrs' Memorial at Savar on the outskirts of the capital in a motorcade.

Later, the Brunei Sultan will place wreaths in memory of Bangladesh's nine-month-long 1971 Liberation War martyrs at the National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar, plant a sapling and sign the "Visitors' Book" there.

From there, the Sultan is scheduled to stay at Hotel InterContinental in Dhaka, President's Press Secretary Md Joynal Abedin told BSS.

In the afternoon, Foreign Minister Dr Abul Kalam Abdul Momen will also meet him at the Meeting Room, Place of Residence, at 6 pm (local time).

The Sultan will hold a meeting with President Abdul Hamid at the Credential Hall of Bangabhaban at 7.00 pm today.
Later, he will sign a "Visitors' Book" at Gallery Hall of the Presidential palace.

The Head of the State will host a state banquet and cultural function in honour of the Sultan at Banquet Hall (Durbar Hall) at 7.35 pm.

On October 16, Sultan Waddaulah will visit Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi here to pay homage to Bangladesh's founding Father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and will also sign a "Visitors' Book" there at about 10.15 am.

Family members of the Father of the Nation will receive the Sultan on the museum premises.

Bangladesh premier will receive Brunei Sultan at Tiger Gate of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) at 03:45 pm.

Brunei Sultan will hold restricted-level talks (tete-e-tete) with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Shimul of the PMO at 3:50 pm.

Later, a delegation-level talk with the Premier will be held at Chameli there.

Apart from the Sultan's other engagements during the visit, the Bangabhaban spokesman said, the three-day visit has special significance as some Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) or agreements will be signed at Korobi Hall there.

The MoUs and agreements include on bilateral aviation agreement, Bangladeshi manpower recruitment cooperation and the recognition of Mariners' certificates by the two countries.

The Sultan will also sign a "Visitors' Book" at Tiger Gate at about 5:25 pm there.

Brunei Sultan will leave Dhaka on October 17.