At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived in India on Friday for a two-day state visit.
Newly-appointed Minister of State (MoS) Kirtivardhan Singh welcomed PM Hasina at the airport.
The visit is expected to give a “major boost” to India-Bangladesh ties, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Randhir Jaiswal, said in a social media post.
This marks the first incoming bilateral state visit following the formation of the Indian government after the 18th Lok Sabha elections, the MEA said in a press release.
“During the visit, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hold bilateral consultations with Prime Minister Modi and is scheduled to call on President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar,” the release said.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is also scheduled to meet with PM Hasina.
PM Hasina was among the international leaders who attended the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Modi and the Union Council of Ministers on June 9.
India and Bangladesh have developed a multifaceted relationship, marked by shared history, culture, and geographical proximity. The two neighbors enjoy warm ties, which have strengthened under the leadership of Prime Ministers Modi and Hasina.
Last year, the two leaders jointly inaugurated the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline on March 18.
PM Hasina also participated virtually in the inaugural session of the Voice of the Global South Summit on January 11, 2023, and the second Virtual Voice of the Global South Summit on November 17, 2023.
As a guest country invited to India’s G20 Presidency in 2023, Bangladesh participated in various tracks at the ministerial level, including the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting and the G20 Development Ministers Meeting in March 2023 and June 2023, respectively.
On November 1, 2023, both prime ministers jointly inaugurated three Indian-assisted development cooperation projects virtually: the Akhaura-Agartala cross-border rail link, the Khulna-Mongla Port rail line, and Unit II of the Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant in Bangladesh.
(With ANI input)