PM won't join D-8 summit
Dhaka officially informs Islamabad
Dhaka yesterday officially informed Islamabad of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's “inability” to participate in the D-8 summit scheduled for November 22.
The message was conveyed to Pakistan High Commissioner in Dhaka Mian Afrasiab Mehdi Hashmi Qureshi when he called on Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes at the latter's office yesterday.
Sources said Quayes told the Pakistan envoy that the prime minister was tired and slightly ill due to her hectic visit to Vietnam and Laos and the programmes marking the just concluded visit by the Belarusian premier to Bangladesh.
He also said Dhaka would soon announce who would be representing the prime minister at the D-8 Summit.
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni was supposed to represent the premier but it remains uncertain as she is currently visiting Djibouti to attend the 39th Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC).
Dipu Moni is due to return to Dhaka on November 19. She will also pay an official visit to Russia from November 22-25.
Earlier, officials said the foreign minister would go to Islamabad on November 20 to attend the D-8 Ministerial Meeting on November 21 and Summit on November 22.
On November 9, Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar visited Bangladesh and handed over the invitation letter of the Pakistan president to attend the D-8 summit.
The prime minister accepted the invitation but cancelled her visit on November 12 without showing any reason.
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