President Abdul Hamid reaches Tokyo

President Abdul Hamid reached Tokyo on Monday on an eight-day official visit to Japan and Singapore.

During his stay, he will attend the enthronement ceremony of the new Japanese emperor on Tuesday, his Press Secretary Md Joynal Abedin told UNB.

A regular flight of Singapore Airlines carrying the President and his entourage took off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) for Singapore at 1:35pm on Sunday and landed on Monday at 6:30am (Local time).

The flight also landed at Singapore Changi International Airport at 7:30pm local time on Sunday en route to Japan.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Japan Rabab Fatima and Special Assistant to Japanese Foreign Minister Kenjiro Monji received the President at Haneda International Airport, reports UNB.

On the other hand, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, the dean of the diplomatic corps, Japanese envoy to Bangladesh Naoki Ito, the Cabinet secretary, chiefs of the three services, the home secretary (public protection) and police chief saw the President off at the airport in Dhaka.

First Lady Rashida Khanam, and officials concerned of the Bangabhaban are accompanying him during the trip.

President Hamid will attend the enthronement ceremony of new Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako at the State Hall of Imperial Palace at 1:30pm (local time) on Tuesday (October 22).

According to media reports, the Japanese emperor is set to proclaim his enthronement in a centuries-old ceremony to be attended by some 2,000 people, including heads of state and other dignitaries, from more than 170 countries.

Akihito, the father of Naruhito, 59, abdicated in May, became the first monarch in two centuries to do so.

On October 23, the President will visit Yokohama, Japan’s second largest city.

Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi will meet Abdul Hamid at Hotel New Otani in Tokyo on the same day.

President Hamid will also attend a banquet to be hosted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Hotel New Otani.

On the second leg of his two-nation tour, the President will visit Singapore on October 25-27 on his way back home.

He is expected to return home on October 27.