Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina will address the People’s Majlis on Thursday.

The People’s Majlis revealed that the session will begin at 4pm, Thursday.

The parliament passed to extend an invitation to PM Hasina during an extraordinary sitting held on Sunday, where parliamentarians voted to extend an invitation to address the parliament during her upcoming visit to the island nation upon the invitation of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

The vote to invite PM Hasina to address the parliament was the only item on the agenda for the extraordinary sitting, in which members of the opposition coalition comprising of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC) did not take part. Members representing ruling coalition party Jumhooree Party (JP) were also not in attendance.

44 lawmakers unanimously voted to approve the invitation.

Parliamentarians, eight Cabinet Ministers, 28 long-serving statesmen, Chief of Defense Force, Commissioner of Police, Chancellor of the Maldives National University (MNU), Vice Chancellor of MNU, and two students from each school in the Greater Malé Region totaling 153 persons will be invited to the session during which the Bangladeshi PM will address the parliament.

Sheikh Hasina is to undertake a State Visit to the Maldives on December 22. This comes upon the invitation of President Solih during his State Visit to Bangladesh in March 2021.

The Bangladeshi PM’s State Visit will see officials talks held between both governments and the signing of multiple Memorandums of Understanding (MoU). The Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, Dr. AK Abdul Momen revealed that four agreements will be signed and the government will donate 13 military vehicles to the Maldivian government. Some of the MoUs that are scheduled to be signed include the “Avoidance of Double Taxation” agreement, one linked to youth and sports and another linked to the exchange of inmates. The trip will also see the renewal of an agreement on training for healthcare workers between both countries.

Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has since revealed that the road to Velana International Airport as well as the lagoon will be closed off to the public for security reasons, on Wednesday. Multiple areas in Hulhulé will be cordoned off to boost security. As such, vessels will not be allowed inside the lagoon of the island from 12pm to 4pm, with vehicles being banned from the region from 2pm to 4pm as well.

Upon arrival, the Bangladeshi PM will be presented with a “Guard of Honor”. Next in the agenda is the official talks between both governments and a joint statement. Followed by this, a ceremony will take place to sign the MoUs. The next item on Sheikh Hasina’s agenda will be to address the parliament.

She is also scheduled to hold a meeting with Vice President Faisal Naseem, Former President and Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed and Chief Justice Muhthasim Adnan at Hotel Jen.

The Bangladeshi PM is also scheduled to hold a virtual meeting with the community of Bangladeshi nationals residing in the Maldives.

Bangladeshi media reports that Sheikh Hasina will conclude the visit on December 27.

Maldives and Bangladesh have been enjoying close cooperation in a number of sectors including fisheries, human resources and education.

The visit, and the high-level exchanges to follow are expected to boost the existing ties and further solidify the bilateral ties between both countries.

Diplomatic relations between Maldives and Bangladesh were established on 22 September 1978.