Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, along with her entourage visited Bangladesh during 11 to 15 April 2005. As the Patron of RDRS’ partner Church of Sweden/Luthrerhjalpen, Crown Princess Victoria visited RDRS’ development activities, especially the microfinance programme in northwest Bangladesh.

Crown Princess Victoria arrived at Saidpur from Dhaka by a special plane on 12 April. Mr Kamaluddin Akbar, Executive Director of RDRS Bangladesh and Mr Douglas Casson Coutts, Country Director of World Food Programme (WFP) welcomed her at the airport.

On the same day Crown Princess Victoria visited WFP-assisted projects in Kaunia, Mogolhat, Barabari and Mahendranagar of Rangpur and Lalmonirhat Districts and talked to the project beneficiaries. She observed Vulnerable Group Development Programme (VGD), Integrated Food Security Programme (IFS) and Nutrition for Education Programme. In the afternoon she returned to RDRS Rangpur centre.

The following day, (13 April) Crown Princess Victoria visited various RDRS development activities in Rajarhat and Ulipur Upazila (sub district) of Kurigram District. The Crown Princess attended a microfinanace Women’s Group meeting at Rajarhat and observed microcredit activities. She talked to the women of the Group and later spent some time with two members Sharathi Devi and Sushama Devi at their homes and discussed about their livelihoods. She was impressed to see how the women were becoming self-reliant with very limited resources and development and microfinance support from RDRS.

After lunch, the Crown Princess visited Thetrai Union Federation in Ulipur upazila (sub district). She was impressed to see the range of handicraft products  produced by Federation members. Crown Princess Victoria’s visit gave inspiration and hope to poor people especially women of the area. The Crown Princess praised Lutherhjalpen’s assistance and RDRS’ activities in northwest Bangladesh.

Crown Princess Victoria was hosted at RDRS Guesthouse in Rangpur while visiting the area. She was accompanied among others, by Swedish Ambassador in Dhaka H.E. Mr Borje Mattsson and his wife, Economic Minister of Swedish Embassy Mr Hans Nichlasson and Marshal of the Royal Court Ms Elisabeth Tarras Wahlberj. Crown Princess Victoria left Rangpur for Dhaka on 14 April.