Manmohan's Visit
Indian advance team due today
A month ahead of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Bangladesh, a six-member advance team from New Delhi will arrive in Dhaka today to discuss security matters, programme schedule and recce the venues.
Special Protection Group (SPG) Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sudeep Lakhtakia will lead the team comprised of senior officials from Prime Minister's Office and the ministries of external and home affairs.
During a three-day stay, the team will tour and observe the possible spots of visit by the Indian premier.
Singh is scheduled to pay a two-day official visit to Bangladesh on September 6-7. He would arrive in Dhaka at the noon of September 6 and depart the next noon, virtually staying for about 24 hours.
The Indian advance team accompanied by the Bangladeshi security and civil officials will recce several spots, including Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, the National Mausoleum at Savar, Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi, Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel, and the roads Manmohan Singh will be traveling in Dhaka.
The foreign ministry sources said the team will hold meetings with the officials of Protocol and External Publicity Wings of the Foreign Ministry, high officials of Special Security Force (SSF), and other security and intelligence agencies when they will discuss entire range of security matters, especially Dhaka's security arrangement, protocols for VVIP entourage members, transportation, accommodation, and all type of logistical matters.
The sources said more Indian teams will come before and after the Eid-ul-Fitr to finalise the programme schedules, agenda for discussion, and agreements to be signed during Manmohan's visit. They said the agenda for discussion may be finalised within the next one week.
The foreign ministry sources also said the officials of different line ministries have already started preparations, and talks are underway with the Indian sides to make the visit a grand success.
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