PM arrives in New Delhi on two-day state visit

Following an invitation from her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina came here this afternoon for a two-day state visit.

At 3:29 p.m. (local time), a Biman Bangladesh Airlines aircraft carrying the prime minister and her entourage touched down at Palam Airport in New Delhi.

The airplane had earlier taken off at 2.03 pm from Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

Md Mustafizur Rahman, the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India, and a high-ranking Indian team met Sheikh Hasina at the airport.

The national flags of Bangladesh and India, along with the likenesses of Sheikh Hasina and Narendra Modi, adorned both sides of the highways.

There were signs welcome Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on both sides of the road leading from Palam Airport to Hotel Taj Palace, in a variety of languages.

After the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP-led alliance formed its government for the third time in a row. This is the first bilateral visit by any head of government to India.

In order to further solidify the already-existing bilateral ties, Dhaka and New Delhi will sign a number of agreements and memorandums of understanding during the visit. The premiers will also hold a tête-à-tête (one-on-one meeting) and then have talks at the delegation level.

Talks about a possible trade agreement are also anticipated. Many international projects have been started in the last ten years as a part of an extensive plan for regional cooperation.

Sheikh Hasina was one of the dignitaries invited to Modi’s swearing-in event on June 9, thus this will be her second visit to the Indian capital in less than 15 days.

The Prime Minister will receive a visit from Dr. S. Jaishankar, India’s Minister of External Affairs, at her residence this Friday evening.

The national anthems of Bangladesh and India will be played during a ceremonial reception on Saturday morning at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be greeted by her Indian counterpart on the red carpet. There, she will also examine the Guard of Honour.

After that, she will go to Raj Ghat to pay tribute to the Father of the Indian Nation Mahatma Gandhi by placing a wreath at his Samadhi. She will also sign the visitor’s book there.

Later on the same day, Sheikh Hasina will go to Hyderabad House to hold a one-to-one meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi followed by Delegation level talks.

Both will witness the signing ceremony of the MoUs and agreements. After that, both the Prime Ministers will give their press statements. Then they will attend a Banquet Luncheon hosted by the Prime Minister of
India in honour of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh at Hyderabad House.

In the afternoon, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will call on Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar at his Secretariat.

In the evening, Sheikh Hasina will call on President of India Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

At 6 pm (Delhi time), the Prime Minister is expected to depart Palam Airport, New Delhi on a flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines and will land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at about 9 pm.