DHAKA, Dec 30: British Prime Minister Tony Blair will arrive in Bangladesh on Thursday as part of a visit to South Asia, a Bangladesh official said.

Mr Blair will lead a 35-member delegation during his two-day visit aimed at boosting ties and cooperation, the foreign ministry official said on Sunday.

After his arrival, Blair and his Bangladesh counterpart, Khaleda Zia, will hold talks, which are likely to focus on bilateral and regional matters, the official said.

Blair, who will be accompanied by his wife, Cherie, is scheduled to tour social welfare projects sponsored by British volunteer agencies and meet people from Sylhet, the northeastern Bangladesh district that has a large migrant community in Britain.—APP