The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina returned home on Tuesday afternoon after ending her week-long official visit to Sweden and Qatar.

On her arrival at the airport, she was received by Deputy Leader of the House Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, LGRD and Cooperative Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister G M Quader, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad, Minister for Health and Family Welfare DR AFM Ruhul Haque, Prime Minister's Adviser H T Imam, State Minister for

Primary and Mass Education Motahar Hossain and State Minister for Home Advocate Shamsul Haq Tuku.

Besides, Cabinet Secretary M Abdul Aziz, Chiefs of three services, Diplomats, Members of Parliament and high civil and military officials were present at the airport.

Sheikh Hasina, who led a high-level Bangladesh delegation to the European Development Day-2009, a flagship event showcasing the EU's continuing and enduring commitment to development, left Dhaka on October 20 for Stockholm, Sweden.

On her way back home from Sweden, the Bangladesh premier visited Qatar on an invitation from Amir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani.

Her delegation in Sweden included State Minister for Environment and Forests Dr Hasan Mahmud, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Environment and Forests and BNP lawmaker Abdul Momin Talukder, Ambassador M Ziauddin and Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Abul Kalam Azad.

Later, Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni and Foreign Secretary Mohamed Mijarul Quayes joined Sheikh Hasina in Qatar.

During her visit in Sweden, Sheikh Hasina addressed the Plenary on Climate Change: The Road to Copenhagen and Beyond on October 24 at Stockholmsmassan Victoria Hall.

Apart from joining the EU Development Day programmes, she had bilateral meetings with her Swedish Counterpart Fredrik Reinfeldt, President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso, Director General of the Swedish International Development Cooperation (SIDA) Anders Nordstrom and Swedish Minister for International Development Ms.Gunilla Carlsson.

She also attended separate dinners hosted by Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and European Commissioner Karel De Gucht in her honour.

Sheikh Hasina, also the President of Bangladesh Awami League, attended a community reception on October 23 at Hallunda Folkethus, Stockholm.

During her two-day official visit to Qatar, Sheikh Hasina had separate meetings with Amir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Than.

She also visited the Bangladesh school in Doha and attended a reception accorded by the expatriate Bangladeshis in honour of the Bangladesh's premier.