Staff Correspondent

A red carpet was rolled out as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived in Bangkok on Wednesday afternoon on a six-day official visit to Thailand at the invitation of her Thai counterpart Srettha Thavisin.

On her arrival at Don Mueang International Airport, Bangkok at 1:08pm (local time), the premier was received by Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul.

She was given a static guard of honour and a 19-round gun salute at the airport.

Thailand Minister-in-Attendance Puangpet Chunlaiad, Thai Ambassador to Bangladesh Makawadee Sumitmor and Bangladesh Ambassador to Thailand Mohammed Abdul Hye were present at the airport.

Earlier, the Bangladesh premier left Dhaka by a flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines at 10:13am on the six-day tour, which is both a bilateral and multilateral visit.

The bilateral visit of the prime minister will be the first-ever visit at the level of head of government from Bangladesh to Thailand since establishment of diplomatic relations in 1972.

During her visit from April 24 to 29, the Bangladesh premier will hold bilateral talks with PM Thavisin and also attend the 80th Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

Bangladesh and Thailand will sign a number of cooperation documents including a letter of intent on negotiations for a free trade agreement between the two countries.

Bangladesh and Thailand are likely to sign an agreement on visa exemption for official passport holders, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on energy cooperation while two more MoUs on tourism sector cooperation and duty related mutual cooperation to expand the relations, said Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud at a media briefing on Monday.

Bangladesh will seek support from Thailand regarding Rohingya repatriation as well as increased investment from Thailand, he said, adding that the issue of shipping connectivity will also be discussed.

On April 26, PM Hasina will be formally received by her Thai host Srettha Thavisin while a ceremonial guard of honor will be accorded to her.