British Duchess Sophie meets Dr Zubaida Rahman in Dhaka

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh of the United Kingdom, has paid a courtesy call on Dr Zubaida Rahman, wife of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

At the meeting in Dhaka on Monday, the two discussed various issues of common interest between the two countries, including the welfare, safety and empowerment of women and girls.

The meeting between Duchess Sophie and Dr Zubaida Rahman was held at the Crown Plaza hotel in the capital. After arriving in Dhaka on Monday, she met the prime minister's wife. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed was present at the time.

The Duchess of Edinburgh Sophie will visit Bangladesh from 9 to 11 November.

She has come on this visit at the invitation of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom.

During the visit, Duchess Sophie will meet representatives of various communities and organisations to highlight the breadth of the bilateral partnership and cooperation between the United Kingdom and Bangladesh.

She will also visit humanitarian assistance activities run for the Rohingya people who have taken shelter in Bangladesh.

As part of the visit, she is also scheduled to go to Cox's Bazar and see the work of various organisations assisting Rohingya refugees.