PHP Group & UITS Chairman Sufi Mohamed Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury, UITS VC Professor Dr. Mohammed Abdul Aziz, Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr. Gowher Rizvi receive Former President of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam at the Zia International Airport on July 19, 2009, Sunday around 5:00 pm.

Former Indian president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam arrived in Dhaka yesterday afternoon on a three-day visit.

He arrived at the Zia International Airport by a Jet Airways flight at around 5:00pm.

Dr Modasser Ali, health adviser to the Prime Minister (PM), Hasan Mahmud, state minister for foreign affairs, Dr Gowher Rizvi, newly appointed adviser to the PM and the government high officials received him at the airport.

Dr Kalam, the 11th president of India from July 25, 2002 to July 25, 2007, left the airport in a motorcade amid tight security.

The former Indian president visited Grameen Bank headquarters at Mirpur and met Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus.

During his visit to Grammen Bank Dr Kalam proposed joint water management and power generation for the countries of the region in the spirit of Saarc, says a press release.

Dr Kalam said he wanted to meet Prof Yunus to learn about the detailed working of Grammen Bank so that micro credit could be incorporated into the approach of his own initiatives in the villages of India through Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA).

Responding to Dr Kalam, Prof Yunus said Grameen Bank would be delighted to help in his effort to set up micro credit programme in India as it is already involved in Kerala.

Dr Kalam said he would like to promote the idea of a separate law for micro credit in India.

He said they should work together to revive the golden fibre jute through research and by means of technology.

The micro credit guru presented a brand new Hindi edition of his book titled 'Banker of the Poor' to the former Indian president.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina hosted a dinner in honour of Dr Kalam at her official residence Jamuna.

The eminent scientist is scheduled to visit Viqarunnisa Noon School and College this morning, and interact with the students and faculty members there.

Rokeya Akhtar, acting principal of the school, told The Daily Star the former Indian president is scheduled to arrive at the school at around 10:00am and would stay for one hour.

The distinguished guest along with President Zillur Rahman will attend the first convocation of the University of Information Technology and Sciences (UITS) at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre today at 12:30pm.

President and Chancellor of UITS Zillur Rahman will preside over the convocation and confer degrees on UITS graduates while the former Indian president will be the convocation speaker, says a press release. Dr Gowher Rizvi will attend the ceremony as special guest.

Dr Kalam is scheduled to visit Dhaka University in the afternoon. He will deliver a special lecture at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban on the campus at 4:00pm and exchange views with the students and faculty members.

DU Vice Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique would chair the session. A crest of the university would be presented to Dr Kalam.