Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently on a two-day visit to India, was accorded a warm welcome by her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Saturday. PM Modi personally welcomed the Bangladeshi premier, who is the first foreign leader to visit India after the NDA formed the government for the third consecutive time.
As she arrived at the presidential residence, Hasina received a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt, after which she and PM Modi also met ministers and delegates from both countries. After the reception there, Hasina went to Rajghat to pay respects to Mahatma Gandhi.
Hasina is scheduled to hold a tete-a-tete meeting with PM Modi later in the day followed by delegation-level talks. A bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi is scheduled with a range of topics on the table – defence, connectivity and infrastructure, power and energy cooperation, trade and economic partnership, development cooperation, river water-sharing and cultural ties.
Sources said a defence pact is expected and discussions on a financial package is likely. The two sides are also discussing a rail transit pact. Hasina will also attend a banquet hosted by PM Modi in her honour at the Hyderabad House. The Bangladeshi Prime Minister will also call on President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar later in the day.
Notably, less than two weeks after she came to New Delhi for the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Council of Ministers, Sheikh Hasina returned to the Capital Friday on a two-day State
India, under its “Neighbourhood First” policy, has always considered Bangladesh an important partner and cooperation extends to areas of security, trade, commerce, energy, connectivity, science and technology, defence and maritime affairs among others.
On economic and trade partnership, Bangladesh is India’s biggest trade partner in South Asia and India is the second biggest trade partner of Bangladesh in Asia. India is Bangladesh’s largest export destination in Asia, with approximately USD 2 billion of Bangladeshi exports to India in FY 2022-23. Sources said the two sides are expected to discuss a more balanced trade and new opportunities for investment.