A host of foreign dignitaries will arrive in Dhaka in March to take part in the golden jubilee (50 years) celebration of the country's independence and to attend Bangabandhu's birth centenary programmes.
"We have received confirmation from three heads of the governments and states. Another one may also join us," Foreign Minister Dr A K Momen told the FE.
According to the schedule, President of the Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa will arrive in the capital on March 17, while President of Nepal Bidya Devi Bhandari will arrive on March 22.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive on March 26 on a two-day visit. But he will go outside Dhaka apart from taking part in the celebration programmes.
Prime Minister of Bhutan also expressed his desire to attend the celebration, a top official of the foreign ministry said.
China wishes to send a top ranking leader, who will carry the message of President Xi Jinping on the occasions. Prime Minister of Canada and President of France will also send messages. The government will hold a 10-day programme - from March 17 to March 26 - to mark the 50 years of Bangladesh's independence and the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Meanwhile, US Ambassador Earl Miller during a meeting with the foreign minister on Tuesday said a high-level team of dignitaries from the US government would visit Bangladesh in near future to attend the year-long celebration.
He also stated that there was possibility of receiving video message from the US leadership on the occasion of the 10-daylong celebration in this month.
Dr Momen told the FE that the leaders would hold bilateral meetings with their counterparts in Dhaka besides taking part in the celebrations.
He said that due to the Covid pandemic situation, many leaders from different parts of the world would not be able to attend the programmes physically.
Officials said that Dhaka city would be decorated to welcome the foreign dignitaries.
