This will be the first-ever visit by a Myanmar premier to Bangladesh. Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan said, "His visit marks sincerity and commitment for a lasting friendship between the two neighbouring countries."

General Nyunt will sit tomorrow with Prime Minister Khaleda Zia for bilateral talks. Besides important bilateral issues including trade, construction of the 55-km stretch of highway establishing direct road link between Yangon and Dhaka is expected to be a dominant agenda of the discussion between the heads of government, foreign ministry sources said.

In fiscal year 2001-02, Bangladesh imported goods worth Tk 16.94 million from Myanmar while exporting that of Tk 2.39 million to that country, sources said.

Nyunt will stay in Dhaka Sunday. The next two days he will spend mostly in the port city of Chittagong. He is also scheduled to visit several pagodas in Bandarban and Cox's Bazar.

The general-turned-premier will leave for his country Tuesday from Cox's Bazar.