Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

Prince Karim Aga Khan, leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, arrived in Dhaka Monday by private plane to a red carpet reception and was greeted by chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed at the airport.

The Aga Khan, who landed at Zia International Airport at 1.30pm, was driven to the Sonargaon Hotel where he will stay during his four-day visit.

A contingent of the Armed Forces accorded the Aga Khan a guard of honour at the airport.

Some local members of the Ismaili community, waving the Bangladesh and Ismaili community flags, lined the road leading to the VVIP terminal to welcome the Aga Khan.

The Aga Khan's first port of call was the National Memorial in Savar, where he paid his respects to the heroes of the Bangladesh Liberation War.

Following that, he met chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed at his office at around 3.30 in the afternoon.

He will release a stamp at the state banquet in Sonargaon Hotel Monday night.

To celebrate the Aga Khan's arrival in Dhaka, major roads in the capital were decorated with flags and a number of banners welcoming the Price were erected on city bridges.

The visit follows an invitation from the chief adviser, and is part of the celebrations to mark the Aga Khan's 50th anniversary as the hereditary and spiritual leader (Imam) of the Shia Ismaili community.

The Aga Khan is also founder and chairperson of the Aga Khan Development Network, one of the largest private development networks in the world.

During his visit, he is expected to meet president Iajuddin Ahmed, foreign adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury and law adviser AF Hassan Ariff among others.

On Tuesday, the Aga Khan is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of the Aga Khan Academy at a site in the Bashundhara residential area.

He will leave Dhaka at 4.30 pm on May 22.