Amid foolproof security, Indian ruling Congress Party chief Sonia Gandhi arrived in Dhaka last night on a two-day visit to Bangladesh at the invitation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. A special flight of Indian Air Force carrying Sonia landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) at 8:45pm, according to a foreign ministry official. Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Dip Moni, Minister for LG RD and Cooperatives Shed Ashraful Islam and State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Captain (Red) AB Tajul Islam welcomed her at the airport. Sonia, the chief patron of Action Autism India, will attend the first ever-biggest international conference on 'Autism Spectrum Disorders and Developmental Disabilities in Bangladesh and South Asia' to be held at Apropos Bang la Hotel in the city as chief guest. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the four-day conference. A good number of high profile dignitaries of the South Asian countries including, Speaker of Pakistan National Assembly Fahmida Mirza, Sri Lanka first lady Shiranthi Rajapakse, Indonesian first lady Ani Bambang Yudhoyono and Maldivian second lady Ilham Hassan, who have already arrived in Dhaka, among others, will also attend the conference. Chairperson of the advisory committee on Autism in Bangladesh Saima Wazed Hassan (Putul) who is also daughter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will conduct the inaugural function. The special security forces of Bangladesh and India have spread a security blanket in the capital city of Dhaka to ensure the security of Sonia, one of the most powerful politicians in the region. In the city, over 12,000 security personnel, including, hundreds of plainclothes police and intelligence forces have been posted at different strategic points including Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), the conference venue, and Hotel Rupashi Bang la (formerly Hotel Sheraton) where Sonia Gandhi will be staying during her visit. A security camp has also been set up outside Hotel Rupashi Bang la. The security at the border has also been put on the highest alert, according to intelligence sources. Sinai will also receive "Bangladesh Swadhinata Sammanona" award conferred upon former Indian Prime Minister Indra Gandhi posthumously for her outstanding contribution to the country's Liberation War in 1971. President Zillur Rahman will formally hand over the honour to Sonia, also daughter-in-law of Indra Gandhi, at Bangabhaban on July 25. During her stay in Dhaka, Sonia is likely to visit the National Mausoleum in Savar and Bangabandhu Smite Jadughar (memorial museum). Sonia will attend a meet-the-reporters programmer after launch and hold a meeting with Prime Minister Sheik Hasina before leaving Dhaka at about 8:30pm. Sources said, the government is set to name a major road of Dhaka after Indra Gandhi as part of a government initiative to honour the country's foreign friends who contributed to its 1971 emergence as an independent nation. Dhaka is set to stage the international conference on autism amid tight security measures for high-profile foreign delegates. A two-day per-conference dialogue ended at Dhaka University yesterday discussing the role of the psychology and psychologists in the management of autism, a childhood neurological disorder or abnormality that limits the communication skills of young children below three years of age. A number of high-profile dignitaries as well as experts from 13 countries are also scheduled to attend the conference, which is expected to act as a major breakthrough event to raise awareness on autism among general masses, physicians and parents in South Asia. Spearheaded by noted international autism activist and Prime Minister's daughter Saima Wazed Putul, the conference will likely to have a great impact on changing policies, enacting new laws, pouring more funds for children with disability and making autism obvious to regional audiences for further actions. The main conference will be followed by a three-day post- conference training programmer for parents of autistic children and their managers -- physicians and psychologists -- to know the skills for early detection of autism symptoms, consult doctors and manage it accordingly. Vice-Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Professor Dr Pran Go pal Datta, said nearly 400 participants, including 31 autism experts from abroad, have registered for the conference. A number of foreign journalists are also expected to cover the event, first of its kind in Bangladesh and south Asia so far. Co-hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO), Autism Speaks USA and SM MU, the conference's inaugural function will be aired live on Bangladesh Be tar and Bangladesh Television today morning, while especially trained security forces will guard the conference venue and places the high profile dignitaries are supposed to visit. Around 5000 participants including autism experts, researchers, patronizers and parents of autistic children from home and abroad will participate in the conference.
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