Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India will always stand by the progress and development of Bangladesh as a faithful friend.

He said this when he paid a courtesy call on President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban in the evening.

Modi said Bangladesh has always been considered a trusted friend of India. 

Also read: Ground-level cooperation needed to check all border incidents: Modi

He also lauded the continuous socio-economic development of Bangladesh under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, President's Press Secretary Md Joynal Abedin told UNB after the meeting.

President Hamid welcomed the Indian Prime Minister at Bangabhaban and thanked him for attending the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence.

He said Modi’s visit would be a unique milestone in strengthening the existing diplomatic ties between the two neighbouring countries.

Also read: Bangladesh, India for progress of whole world: Modi

During the meeting, President Hamid expressed sincere thanks to the Government of India for conferring the ‘Gandhi Peace Prize 2020’ on Bangabandhu posthumously in recognition of his outstanding contributions towards social, economic and political transformation through non-violent and other Gandhian methods.

The President also thanked the Government of India for sending Coronavirus vaccine doses to Bangladesh as gift. He hoped that vaccine doses would come to Bangladesh from India on a commercial basis would also arrive in time.

Referring to India's support in 1971, the President thanked the Government and people of India for their support and cooperation in the Great War of Liberation.

Also read: Dhaka-Delhi to accelerate momentum; eye next 50 years diversified ties

The Indian PM also signed the visitors' book at Bangabhaban.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr AK Momen, Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, among others, were present there.