PM takes regular commercial flight on the way home from Geneva, exchanges pleasantries with passengers
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (17 June) returned home from Geneva, Switzerland after attending the "World of Work Summit: Social Justice for All" held on 14-15 June.
A regular commercial flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the prime minister and her entourage members landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 01.55am.
The prime minister exchanged pleasantries with the passengers on the flight and inquired about their well-being.
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The flight earlier departed Geneva International Airport at 11.50am Geneva time (3.50pm BST).
PM converses with the passengers
The passengers on the flight became surprised and delighted when they saw Sheikh Hasina herself was visiting them, coming to their seats one after another and exchanging pleasantries with all on board on the way back home from Geneva, Switzerland.
She inquired about their (passengers) well-being in the fully packed commercial flight of the national flag carrier.
"Many of them were surprised and astonished having their Prime Minister just beside their seats in the flight," said Prime Minister's Speech Writer Md Nazrul Islam, who was accompanying her.
Sheikh Hasina, the elder daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, entertained many of the passengers' requests when they wanted to have photographs with her.
She also talked to the children with great affection and had some funny chit-chat with them and took many babies on her lap.
Some of the passengers expressed their opinions to the Prime Minister on various issues including the unexpected developments of the country in the last 14 and a half years.
On 13 June, the premier arrived in Geneva on a four-day official visit to Switzerland.
On 14 June, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR chief Flippo Grandi called on the prime minister at her place of residence.
Later, the premier called on President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset at Palais de Nations. After the call on, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Knowledge and Skills enhancement between Bangladesh and Switzerland was signed there.
In the afternoon, the prime minister delivered her address to the Plenary of the "World of Work Summit 2023" at Palais de Nations.
Sheikh Hasina also had a call on with the President of Malta Dr George Vella, followed by a meeting with ILO Director-General Gilbert F Houngbo.
In the evening, the prime minister attended a dinner with high-level dignitaries hosted by the DG ILO at its headquarters.
On 15 June, she joined "A talk at the WEF", followed by a meeting with the founder of WEF Prof Klaus Schwab at the WEF Office.
There, she addressed the event "New Economy and Society in Smart Bangladesh" organised by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
In the evening, WTO Director General Dr Okonjo-Iweala called on her at her residence. She also attended a community reception in the evening.
"The World of Work Summit 2023: Social Justice for All" is a high-level forum for global voices to address the need for increased, coordinated and coherent action in support of social justice.
It provided an opportunity to discuss and inform the proposal to forge a Global Coalition for Social Justice, which was welcomed by the Governing Body of the International Labour Office at its 347th Session.
A number of high-level guests as well as representatives of employers and workers addressed the conference.
The two-day summit highlighted the critical role of social justice in creating a more sustainable and equitable world and discussed strategies for increased and better-aligned joint action to advance social justice and ensure policy coherence.
