DHAKA: Foreign Affairs Minister Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali on Sunday left Dhaka for Belgium to join in an international conference on preventing genocide scheduled to be held at Brussels on Monday.

Foreign ministry sources confirmed the matter to banglanews.

This is his first visit to any foreign country as minister after the incumbent government assumed power.

AH Mahmud Ali also will meet his counterpart and European Union Climate Commissioner Connie Didier Reynders.

Bangladesh’s foreign minister is likely to address a seminar titled ‘Journey Towards Peace, Justice and Development’ arranged by the European Institution for Asian Studies.

The minister is also scheduled to attend Reception on National and Independence Day festival at Brussels arranged by Bangladesh Embassy.

Minister Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali will return on April 2.

BDST: 1825 HRS, MAR 30, 2014