Sheikh Hasina handed over Manmohan Singh's letter

Dhaka, Mar 14 (UNI) Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty today met Awami League (AL) president Sheikh Hasina at her Sudhasadan house and handed a letter addressed to her by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The letter was delivered to Ms Hasina hours before her departure for a month-long visit to the US, against the backdrop of major changes in the political landscape at home. The import of the letter could not be ascertained.

AL presidium member Kazi Zafarullah, who was in the meeting, told UNI that the Indian envoy met the Awami League President before her departure to the US tomorrow.

''The High Commissioner came here to hand over a letter of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,'' he said while refusing to disclose the contents of the letter.

Ms Hasina leaves here for Washington tomorrow morning to visit her ailing daughter-in-law Christina Wajed, the wife of Ms Hasina's only son Sajeeb Wajed Joy who is suffering from gall bladder complications. Ms Hasina will return home as soon as her daughter-in-law recovers.

She will fly by British Airways to London en route to Washington and may stay in London for a couple of days to visit her younger sister, Sheikh Rehana.

Awami League presidium member Kazi Zafarullah will accompany Ms Hasina during her trip to the US.

During her stay there, she plans to complete her unfinished book, Bangabandhu's Diary.

Earlier, the AL chief visited US in October last year for treatment of her ears, which were badly injured in the August 21 grenade attack.

Mr Zafrullah told UNI today that Ms Hasina will return home after one month. He disagreed with the notion that she is leaving the country for good following suit of Pakistan's ex-Prime Ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif.

UNI