Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi todays visits Bangladesh. He was received by PM of Bangladesh Sheikh Haseena.
His visit to Bangladesh is to attend the celebration of Bangladesh 50th year of liberation from Pakistan and the centenary year of its founder Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, Premier Sheikh Hasina's father. The two countries are also celebrating 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties.
PM Modi had expressed his happiness over his first foreign visit since the Covid-19 lockdown in India a year ago.
"My visit will not only be an occasion to convey appreciation for Bangladesh's remarkable economic and developmental strides under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visionary leadership, but also to commit India's abiding support for these achievements," he said in a statement before his departure.
He had also tweeted yesterday saying that Bangladesh is an important pillar of India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy. Known as East Pakistan till 1971, Bangladesh was formed after India and Pakistan fought a war.
He also stated in a statement that "For instance, India and Bangladesh were able to finally overcome the complications of history through the 2015 Land Boundary Agreement. But had Bangabandhu been at the helm longer, this achievement may have come much earlier,".
Further he stated, "We could have built a closely integrated economic region, with deeply interlinked value-chains spanning food processing to light industry, electronics and technology products to advanced materials,".
Modi also stated that, like Bhutan, Nepal and Myanmar, Bangladesh occupies a special place in Indian diplomacy and should be helped for mutual growth and security.
Milestones achived Since 2014;
- Land Boundary Agreement
- Restoration of pre-1965 rail links with India. Five out of six have been completed.
- Reviving the protocol on inland water and trade transit.
- Agreement on the use of Chittagong and Mongla ports for trade and transit.
- Building of the Maitree Bridge on the Feni river.
- Agreement to export power including building a transmission line from Berhampur in India to Bheramara in Bangladesh
- Supply of diesel to Bangladesh from Numaligarh refinery.
Ahead of Modi visit, protests occured at Chittagong, Bangladesh had killed 4 people as police fired rubber bullets.
Media reports says that protests against PM Modi's visit also flared in the capital Dhaka, where dozens of people, including two journalists, were injured in clashes with police.
