New Delhi [India], June 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in bilateral discussions with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Hyderabad House in the national capital on Saturday.
According to Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, PM Modi warmly welcomed his Bangladeshi counterpart, highlighting that the two leaders have convened ten times since 2019. Jaiswal emphasized the deepening of the India-Bangladesh relationship, characterizing their interactions as pivotal in transforming bilateral ties.
Prime Minister Hasina, the first foreign dignitary to undertake a bilateral State visit to India following the establishment of the Modi 3.0 government, received a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan earlier in the day. The Ministry of External Affairs described the reception as honoring a “special partner.”
Arriving in India on Friday at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Prime Minister Hasina’s visit underscores the importance of bilateral relations between the two nations. The ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan marked her official reception by PM Modi, symbolizing the beginning of their bilateral state visit dialogue.
During their meeting at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Prime Ministers Hasina and Modi engaged with ministers and delegates from both countries. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Union Minister JP Nadda, and Ministers of State Jitendra Singh and Kirti Vardhan Singh were among those present to extend their welcome to the Bangladeshi Prime Minister.
Following the official engagements, Prime Minister Hasina paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, a gesture commemorating the enduring principles of non-violence and shared values that guide the close and warm relationship between India and Bangladesh.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal expressed optimism that the visit would significantly bolster India-Bangladesh ties, underscoring its importance through social media posts.
The visit also included a call by EAM Jaishankar on Prime Minister Hasina, emphasizing the enduring and close ties between the two neighboring countries.
Prime Minister Hasina’s attendance at the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Modi and the Union Council of Ministers on June 9 highlighted the strength and importance of the bilateral relationship.
Over the years, India and Bangladesh have nurtured a multifaceted relationship grounded in shared history, culture, and geographic proximity. Under the leadership of PM Modi and Sheikh Hasina, these ties have strengthened, culminating in various bilateral initiatives, including the joint inauguration of the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline in March 2023.
Additionally, Prime Minister Hasina participated virtually in global forums such as the Voice of the Global South Summit, further solidifying bilateral cooperation and mutual understanding between the two nations.
