Bangladesh is all set to welcome Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a red carpet reception.
He will arrive in Dhaka Friday on a two-day state visit to attend the celebration programmes of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of Bangladesh’s independence.
This will be his first visit outside India since the pandemic last year.
The invitation of the Indian PM as a guest of honour at the golden jubilee celebration is being seen as an expression of deep gratitude for India's role in Bangladesh's liberation.
“The visit will mainly focus on the joint celebrations,” foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen told journalists.
“Prime Minister Nadrendea Modi’s determination to visit Bangladesh reflects the central position it occupies as a country that is both in our Act East and Neighbourhood-First Policy,” said Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Vikram Doraiswami.
Modi will land in Dhaka on a red carpet to be rolled out at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Friday morning. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will receive him at the airport.
After the formalities of state honour at the airport, he will go straight to the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar to pay rich tributes to the heroic martyrs of the Liberation War of Bangladesh by placing a wreath.
Then, he will visit the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 to pay homage to Father of the Nation.
In the afternoon, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen will call on him at the place of residence at Hotel Sonargaon.
Later, he will join the birth centenary and the golden jubilee celebration programme at the National Parade Square.
President Md. Abdul Hamid will be present at the celebration as the chief guest while Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will preside over.
In the evening, he will inaugurate the ‘Bangabandhu-Bapu Museum’ jointly with his counterpart Sheikh Hasina at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center.
He will attend a state banquet arranged in his honor by the prime minister.
On the second day, he will visit the Mausoleum of Bangabandhu at Tungipara in Gopalganj to pay his respect.
From there, he is scheduled to visit the Orakandi temple in Kashiani upazila of Gopalganj and the Jessoreswari Devi Temple at Ishwaripur under Shyamnagar in Satkhira district.
In the afternoon, he will hold the bilateral meeting with his counterpart at the Prime Minister’s Office.
He will meet President Md. Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban before leaving Dhaka in the evening.
Number of deals is expected to be signed after the bilateral meeting at the Prime Minister’s office.
“As a reflection of growing cooperation, both the sides will sign a range of agreements in disaster management, trade and oceanography,” Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said in New Delhi.
He said India will also have a new announcement to make in the areas of culture, preservation of 1971 spirit and cooperation in health and power sectors during the visit.
It’s a “very significant” visit, Shringla said, adding that: “We have a very qualitative visit that is focused on shared history, cultural ties and people to people contacts”.
He, however, said India would continue to remain engaged with Bangladesh to conclude the Teesta agreement as soon as possible.
The Indian foreign secretary also reiterated New Delhi’s position on the Rohingya issue. “India is the only country, which has a border with Bangladesh and Myanmar. So, we are remained engaged with both the countries to address the issue,” he said.
