He also paid homage at the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar in memory of the martyrs of the 1971 War of Liberation.
He planted a sapling at the National Martyrs’ Memorial premises.
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Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa paid a courtesy call on President Md. Abdul Hamid and held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Rajapaksa.
At the invitation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Mahinda Rajapaksa paid a State Visit to Bangladesh on March 19-20 to participate in the celebration marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh’s independence.
The State visit signifies the fact that this is the first overseas visit undertaken by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa after assuming the premiership in August 2020, said a joint statement on Saturday.
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa was accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising Minister of Education, State Minister for Regional Cooperation, State Minister of Money and Capital Market and State Enterprise Reforms, State Minister of Batik, Handloom Fabric and Local Apparel Products and State Minister of Rural Housing and Construction and Building Material Industries, Secretary to the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary and senior government officials of Sri Lanka.
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa was received by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka.
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Prime Minister of Bangladesh hosted a State Banquet in honour of Prime Minister Rajapaksa on Friday.
In the presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa delivered the Bangabandhu Memorial Lecture at the special programme at the National Parade Ground on Friday as the ‘Guest of Honour’.
In his address, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa paid rich tribute to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his visionary leadership that led to the emergence of a sovereign and independent Bangladesh.
He also lauded Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for successfully carrying forward Bangabandhu’s rich legacy in realizing his dream of a ‘Sonar Bangla’, the ‘Prosperous Golden Bengal’.
In her address, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina thanked Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa for gracing the occasion despite the pandemic and for the expression of his solidarity towards Bangladesh and its people.
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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa held bilateral talks on Saturday which was marked by great warmth and cordiality reflecting the excellent bilateral relations and friendship that exist between the two countries.
The two leaders discussed all aspects of Bangladesh-Sri Lanka relations and also discussed contemporary international and regional issues of common interest.