18th CHOGM begings in Malta Nov 25

He will leave Dhaka for Malta tomorrow at the head of a seven-member delegation.

This year the theme of CHOGM, as proposed by the host Malta, is "Networking the Commonwealth for Development."

Official sources said the heads of government of the commonwealth countries will discuss issues like trade, development, human rights, millennium development goals, foreign private investment, terrorism, governance and capacity building, poverty eradication and natural disaster management.

The summit will be preceded by a Pre-CHOGM Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Malta on November 23-24.

The FM meeting will discuss UN reforms, human rights, terrorism, small arms and light weapons, illegal immigration, trade liberalisation, debt and international economic cooperation.

The draft communique, prepared by the Committee of the Whole at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London last month, will be considered by the foreign ministers during their meeting.

The final CHOGM Communique will be placed before the heads of government for adoption.

The heads of government will meet over one executive session on November 25 followed by three informal retreat sessions.

Members of Bangladesh delegation include Foreign Secretary Hemayetuddin and Bangladesh High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Sabihuddin Ahmed.

The foreign minister will return home on November 30.