Dhaka: President Abdul Hamid left Dhaka for India on Thursday afternoon on a five-day official visit.

He will participate in the founding conference of International Solar Alliance (ISA) and Solar Summit on March 11, jointly hosted by India and France in New Delhi.

A VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the President took off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 1:38pm for Guwahati International Airport at Indian State of Assam.

Cabinet members, Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, chiefs of three services, and sectaries concern including cabinet secretary saw the President off at the airport.  

Presidents and prime ministers from 23 countries and ministers from nine countries will participate in the summit.

Apart from joining the summit, President Abdul Hamid is likely to pay courtesy calls on presidents of India, Sri Lanka and France.

On November 30, 2015, India and France, at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, launched the International Solar Alliance to boost solar energy in developing countries.

Before going to New Delhi, The President will visit some of his memorable places in Assam and Meghalaya. During 1971 Liberation War, he was the sub-sector commander of the Bangladesh Liberation Force (Mujib Bahini).

He inspired and organised Bangladeshi youths, who took shelter in India during the war, at Gumaghat, Moilam and Balat in Meghalaya. Hamid established a youth reception camp at Balat for Bangladeshi youths and he acted as president of the camp.

He is scheduled to return home on March 12.