PM Hasina’s China itinerary unchanged, returns early for daughter’s illness

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to China has not been shortened, Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has said.

"She is not just staying here overnight because her daughter Saima Wazed is sick and she will go to Dhaka early to give her time as a mother," the foreign minister said in Beijing on Wednesday, the last day of the prime minister's visit.

He reiterated that all the programmes ended as scheduled.

Following the itinerary, the prime minister's official programs ended after 4pm following her meeting with President Xi Jinping.

But her chartered flight had been scheduled for Thursday morning for return.

Now her flight depart at 10pm on Wednesday from Beijing, the foreign minister said. "She will not stay here overnight. But there have been no change in any of her programs."

During the visit, the prime minister witnessed the signing of 21 MoUs and announced seven new projects with the Chinese premier.

Her daughter Saima Wazed, regional director of the World Health Organization Southeast Asia, dropped her plan to accompany the prime minister due to illness, the foreign minister said.