UNB, Riyadh

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived in Riyadh this morning on a five-day official visit.

She will hold talks with Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al Saud and perform holy Umrah at Makkah.

Dr Saud bin Saeed al Mat’hami, Minister in-Charge of Shoura Council Affairs, received the prime minister at King Khaled International Airport at 3:15am (local time). Bangladesh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Fazlul Karim and Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Abdullah Bin Naser Al Busairi were among others present at the airport.

The premier went straight to the Conference Palace in a ceremonial motorcade from the airport.

Within few hours she will have the audience with the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques king Abdullah at the Royal Court, al Yamamah Palace.

Hasina’s entourage includes Sheikh Rehana, Sajeeb Wajed Joy, Labour and Employment Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hasan Mahmud and State Minister for Labour and Employment Begum Munnujan Sufian.

Earlier, the prime minister left Dhaka for Riyadh by a Biman flight little after Monday midnight. On board the aircraft she exchanged pleasantries with other passengers.