Timor-Leste President Ramos-Horta in Bangladesh: Key talks with Chief Adviser Yunus today

Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta is in Dhaka on a four-day official visit to strengthen ties between Bangladesh and his country. On Sunday, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain met with the visiting president at a city hotel to discuss how both nations can work together more closely on various issues of mutual interest.

Today, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus is set to have a one-on-one meeting with President Ramos-Horta, which will be followed by a broader meeting with their delegations. Afterward, both leaders will hold a joint press conference at the Chief Adviser‍‍`s Office at 12:15 p.m.

During the press conference, the two countries are expected to sign agreements, including a visa exemption deal and a Memorandum of Understanding for Foreign Office Consultations (FOC).

President Ramos-Horta‍‍`s visit includes a series of important meetings aimed at boosting bilateral cooperation. He arrived in Dhaka on Saturday night, where he was welcomed with a red carpet reception at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 10:40 p.m. Chief Adviser Yunus personally greeted the president upon his arrival.

President Ramos-Horta received a state salute and inspected a guard of honour presented by the Bangladesh Armed Forces as the national anthems of both countries were played. He is accompanied by a 19-member delegation, including Timor-Leste’s foreign minister.

Later today, Ramos-Horta is scheduled to meet with Kutubuddin Ahmed, honorary consul of Timor-Leste in Bangladesh, as well as Bangladesh Football Federation President and BNP leader Tabith Awal.

On December 16, the president will visit Bangabhaban to meet the President of Bangladesh. He will also travel to the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar to pay tribute to the heroes of Bangladesh’s Liberation War. President Ramos-Horta will then take part in the 54th Victory Day celebrations, marking Bangladesh’s victory in the 1971 Liberation War.

On his final day, December 17, he will deliver a lecture at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) auditorium. The topic of his lecture is “The Challenges of Peace in the Contemporary World,” where he will also interact with students and young leaders, sharing his experience of leading Timor-Leste’s independence movement and the aspirations of his country after independence.

President Ramos-Horta will wrap up his visit and depart from Dhaka later on December 17, leaving after a trip focused on strengthening diplomatic and cultural relations between Bangladesh and Timor-Leste.