Dhaka: An eight-member Thai delegation, led by its Culture Minister Vira Rojpojchanarat, arrived here on Monday evening to witness the Bangla New Year festivities.  

His delegation includes Sureerat Wongsangiem, Inspector General of Culture, Prarop Laovanich, Secretary to the Minister, Darunee Thamapodol, Director of International Affairs and other high officials of the Thai Culture Ministry, and Thai media members.  

Cultural Affairs Secretary Dr Ranjit Kumar Biswas and senior officials of the ministry will receive the Thai minister at the airport, according to ministry officials.  

His goodwill visit to Bangladesh is the first by any Asean or Thai Culture Minister whose visit is exclusively aimed at learning about Bangla New Year and cultural festivities.  

The Thai minister and his entourage will visit Romna Botomul on Tuesday at 6:30am to watch the Bangla New Year Borsho Boron. Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor received him there. 

The two ministers will later watch the colourful Mongol Shuvajatra at the Dhaka University’s Fine Arts Institute.   

The Thai minister will also visit the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum to pay tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.  

Later in the afternoon, he will hold a bilateral meeting with his Bangladesh counterpart at the State Guest House Padma, which will be followed by an official lunch. Ambassadors of Asean and South Asian countries are expected to be present.

The Thai minister will then visit Dharmarijika Buddhist Shongho at Kamalapur to pay respect to Songhonayak Mahathero.  

He will also go to Shilpakala Academy in the evening to attend along with Bangladesh Culture Minister a cultural programme on Bangla New Year. Rojpojchanarat will leave Dhaka for home on Wednesday.