Staff Reporter :
Dhaka is prepared to host José Ramos-Horta, the President of Timor-Leste, who begins a four-day official visit to Bangladesh aimed at strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations.
President Ramos-Horta arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Saturday night aboard a special Singapore Airlines flight. He is accompanied by a 19-member delegation, including Timor-Leste’s Foreign Minister. Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus will receive the President with a red-carpet reception and a guard of honor.
The visit includes a series of high-level meetings designed to enhance cooperation in various fields.
On December 15, President Ramos-Horta will meet with Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain in the morning, followed by discussions with Chief Adviser Dr. Yunus. A delegation-level meeting will also be held, culminating in a joint press conference.
Key agreements are expected to be signed during the visit, including a visa exemption pact and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Foreign Office Consultations (FOC). These agreements aim to facilitate greater mobility and foster deeper diplomatic engagement between the two nations.
In the afternoon, the President will meet the Honorary Consul of Timor-Leste in Bangladesh, Kutubuddin Ahmed, and Bangladesh Football Federation President and BNP leader, Tabith Awal. These discussions emphasize the visit’s focus on expanding cooperation in fields such as sports and trade.
On December 16, Ramos-Horta will pay tribute to Bangladesh’s Liberation War heroes by visiting the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar. He will later participate in the 54th Victory Day celebrations, commemorating Bangladesh’s historic triumph in the 1971 Liberation War.
The President will also meet his Bangladeshi counterpart at Bangabhaban, highlighting the importance of state-level engagements in reinforcing bilateral relations.
On December 17, the final day of his visit, Ramos-Horta will deliver a lecture at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) auditorium. The lecture, titled “The Challenges of Peace in the Contemporary World,” will reflect on his leadership experiences and insights into global peacebuilding.
To inspire future leaders, he is scheduled to interact with Bangladeshi students and young leaders, sharing stories of Timor-Leste’s independence movement and the nation’s aspirations.
President Ramos-Horta’s visit is expected to pave the way for enhanced collaboration in trade, education, and people-to-people exchanges. By focusing on shared values and mutual interests, the visit seeks to strengthen the friendship between Bangladesh and Timor-Leste.
The President will conclude his visit and depart Dhaka on December 17, leaving behind a framework for stronger diplomatic and cultural ties between the two countries.
