<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck on Monday was accorded a red carpet reception on his arrival here on a four-day state visit to Bangladesh to attend a series of programmes including Independence Day celebrations.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>This is first state visit paid by any foreign dignitary since the formation of the new government after January 7 national election.</div><div><br></div><div>President Mohammed Shahabuddin and First Lady received the king and his delegation members who arrived at 10am by a special flight.</div><div><br></div><div>The king was given state salute and guard of honour by a smartly turned out contingent of Bangladesh Armed Forces. He inspected the guard of honour, while the national anthems of the two countries were played.</div><div><br></div><div>After the ceremony at the airport, he was headed for Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 to pay tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.</div><div><br></div><div>On Monday afternoon, the king will have a delegation-level meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office. They will have a one-to-one meeting too.</div><div><br></div><div>Three new MoUs will be signed between Bangladesh and Bhutan while another MoU on cultural exchange will be renewed.</div><div><br></div><div>The king and the prime minister will witness the signing of the MoUs.</div><div><br></div><div>Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud will meet the king at his place of residence the same day before the meeting with the prime minister.</div><div><br></div><div>On Tuesday, the king will visit the National Martyrs’ Memorial at Savar.</div><div><br></div><div>He will also visit Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.</div><div><br></div><div>The royal guest will visit Bangabhaban where he will be received by the president and his wife.</div><div><br></div><div>The king will have a meeting with the president at 4:30 pm on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>The president will host iftar and a dinner reception in honour of the visiting royal.</div><div><br></div><div>On Wednesday morning, Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck and selected Bhutanese delegation members will leave Bangladesh for Bhutan by a special flight.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Rehana and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen will see them off at the airport.</div><div><br></div><div>The Bhutanese king will visit Padma Bridge and Bangladesh Special Economic Zone in Araihazar, Narayanganj.</div><div><br></div><div>On Thursday, the king will visit Kurigram Special Economic Zone.</div><div><br></div><div>He will leave Bangladesh territory for Golakganj, Assam via Sonahat Land Port on Thursday afternoon.</div><div><br></div><div>Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, state minister for shipping, will see him off there.</div><div><br></div><div>The 4th King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, sent a letter of congratulations to the prime minister recently saying under her dynamic and strong leadership, Bangladesh has enjoyed peace, stability and unprecedented economic development.</div><div><br></div><div>He also termed Bhutan as a "close friend" and rejoiced with the people of Bangladesh on this occasion.</div><div><br></div><div>Bhutan was the first country to recognise the newly independent Bangladesh on December 6 in 1971 when the 3rd King of Bhutan sent a message of recognition by telegram.</div><div><br></div><div>Since then Bangladesh and Bhutan share a special multidimensional bilateral relationship. Immediately after the independence, the Bhutanese government took initiative to establish diplomatic relations with Bangladesh and, consequently, formal diplomatic relations was established on 12 April 1973.</div><div><br></div><div>Foreign Minister Hasan on Sunday said Bangladesh will allocate 190 acres of land in Kurigram for a special economic zone for Bhutanese investors.</div><div><br></div><div>He said Bangladesh wants to import hydropower from Bhutan and a tripartite agreement is required to bring the electricity through India.</div><div><br></div><div>"We are in discussion to that end," he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</div><div><br></div><div>He said Bhutan has a potential of producing 25,000 megawatts of hydropower.</div><div><br></div><div>The foreign minister said Bangladesh will also import hydropower from Nepal and things are settled regarding that initiative.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasan said Bangladesh will construct a Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit in Thimphu as a goodwill gesture which also demonstrates the country’s capacity, reports unb</div><div><br></div><div>"We have multifaceted relations with Bhutan," Hasan said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd/fas</div>