Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, arrived in New Delhi on Friday for a significant two-day state visit, marking her second trip to India in under two weeks. The Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying the Prime Minister and her delegation landed at Palam Airport around 3:30 pm.
Welcoming Ceremony and Diplomatic Engagements
On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Hasina at the Rashtrapati Bhavan with a ceremonial reception. This visit is particularly noteworthy as Hasina is the first foreign leader to visit India following the formation of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government for the third consecutive term. At the presidential residence, Hasina received a grand welcome in the forecourt, followed by meetings with ministers and delegates from both nations.
Schedule of Key Events
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Rajghat Visit: Hasina paid her respects to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.
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Tête-à-tête with PM Modi: Scheduled for later in the day, followed by delegation-level talks.
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Signing of MoUs: Both leaders will oversee the signing ceremony and deliver press statements.
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State Banquet: A banquet in Hasina’s honor hosted by PM Modi at Hyderabad House.
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Meetings with Indian Leaders: Includes interactions with President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.
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External Affairs Discussion: Hasina met with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday, discussing various bilateral issues.
Key Discussion Points
The talks between Hasina and Modi are expected to cover several critical areas, aimed at enhancing bilateral ties:
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Trade Agreements: Discussions on a potential trade pact, as both countries have launched numerous cross-border initiatives over the past decade.
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Connectivity Projects: Focus on road, rail, and energy connectivity enhancements.
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Water Sharing Treaties: Including the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty and potential development of the Teesta River.
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Defense Cooperation: Deepening the defense partnership with a $500 million line of credit offered by India, which remains unused.
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Regional Stability: The situation in Myanmar and the management of Mongla Port, potentially developing it akin to Iran’s Chabahar Port or Myanmar’s Sittwe Port.
Significance of the Visit
This visit is Hasina’s first overseas state trip since starting her fifth term in January. It underscores the importance of India-Bangladesh relations, especially as Hasina is the first state guest since Modi’s third term began. Her presence highlights the growing bilateral relationship, reinforced by her attendance at Modi's swearing-in ceremony earlier this month.
India-Bangladesh Relations: An Overview
The bilateral relationship between India and Bangladesh has been robust, characterized by extensive cooperation in multiple domains:
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Economic Ties: Bangladesh is India’s largest trading partner in South Asia, with bilateral trade reaching $15.9 billion in 2022-23. India is also Bangladesh’s second-largest trading partner in Asia, with Bangladesh’s exports to India approximating $2 billion in the same period.
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Development Partnership: Bangladesh is India’s largest development partner, with nearly one-fourth of India’s Line of Credit commitments directed towards Bangladesh.
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Connectivity Projects: Notable projects include the Maitri Setu bridge over the Feni River in Tripura and the Chilahati-Haldibari rail link.
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Defence and Security: Joint military exercises and increased defense cooperation, despite challenges faced by Bangladesh with Chinese defense equipment.
Strategic Importance
Hasina’s visit reinforces the strategic ties between the two nations, highlighting India’s "Neighbourhood First" policy. This policy prioritizes strengthening partnerships with neighboring countries, emphasizing security, trade, commerce, energy, connectivity, science and technology, defense, and maritime affairs.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India marks a significant step in reinforcing the already strong bilateral relations between the two nations. With a focus on trade, connectivity, defense, and regional stability, this visit is expected to yield several key agreements and further solidify the partnership between India and Bangladesh.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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