Hasina to open Calcutta Book Fair Wednesday

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will leave for the Indian State of West Bengal on a three-day visit on Wednesday to inaugurate the Calcutta Book Fair and receive an honorary degree, D. Lit, from Viswa Bharati University, reports UNB.

Hasina will inaugurate the Book Fair and deliver a speech on Wednesday. Bangladesh is the theme country of this year's Calcutta Book Fair.

She will also attend the opening ceremony of Bangladesh Gate and Bangladesh pavilion there.

On Thursday, the Prime Minister will go to Viswa Bharati University where former Indian Prime Minister IK Gujral would receive her.

The Bangladesh Prime Minister would be conferred on D. Lit by Viswa Bharati University at a special convocation.

She will also visit Tagore's home and museum.

Later, the Prime Minister will fly to Churulia to visit the birthplace of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. She will be given a reception there.

During her stay in Calcutta, West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu and Indian External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh will call on the Bangladesh Prime Minister.

West Bengal Governor Dr AR Kidwai will host a reception in honour of the Prime Minister at Raj Bhaban while the Mayor of Calcutta will accord a civic reception to her at the Town Hall.

The Prime Minister will meet the press before her departure for Dhaka on Friday.

More than 50 journalists from national news agencies and newspapers will travel by bus to Calcutta to cover the Prime Minister's visit.