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Rohingya crisis and post-uprising political reforms in Bangladesh are high on his agenda as United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres arrives here today on a four-day visit.
He is scheduled to fly in Dhaka at 5:00pm by an Emirates flight to begin his tour that will first take the UN chief to Cox's Bazar where over a million evicted Rohingya minority people of Myanmar live in camps for long.
Accompanied by Chief Adviser of the interim government Professor Yunus, Mr Guterres will fly to the seashore district of Cox's Bazar tomorrow (Friday) to spend the full day. Both will have Iftar with the camp-dwellers in the evening.
"It is expected that one lakh Rohingya will join the Iftar with them and the Iftar will be hosted by the chief adviser," Deputy Press Secretary Azad Mazumder said while briefing the press Wednesday on the visit.
"Repatriating Rohingya to their homeland in the Rakhine State in Myanmar is a top priority for this interim government, and since taking over power, the chief adviser has been engaged in highlighting the issue in every meeting with international dignitaries," said Press Secretary to the CA, Shafiqul Alam.
Mr Guterres will be received by Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain before proceeding to his place of residence at the InterContinental Hotel.
On Friday, Foreign Affairs Adviser Hossain and High Representative of the Chief Adviser on Rohingya Issue and Priority Matters Dr Khalilur Rahman will call on the UN Secretary-General at the hotel at 9:00am and then the UN chief will meet Chief Adviser Dr Yunus at the Chief Adviser's Office at 10:00 am.
The meeting over, Guterres will travel to Cox's Bazar on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines commercial flight to visit the Rohingya camps.
Disaster Management and Relief Adviser Faruk E Azam will receive him upon arrival at Cox's Bazar Airport.
In Cox's Bazar, Chief Adviser Professor Yunus will visit a runway project and inaugurate a model mosque. Thereafter will he join Guterres for Iftar with around one lakh Rohingya.
The two leaders are expected to interact with Rohingya imams and community leaders during the event.
Before the evening breakfast, the Secretary-General will visit several facilities at the camps, including the Watch Tower, Learning Centre, Multipurpose Service Centre, and a jute-production site.
He is also likely to engage with Rohingya youth and children before returning to Dhaka in the evening.