A red carpet was rolled out at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HISA) on Friday morning as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived here on a two-day official visit.

The Indian Prime Minister is the fifth among the world leaders after the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan to attend the celebrations of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of the country’s independence. It is Modi's first visit outside India since the start of the pandemic.

Also read:Modi to bring 12 lakh more vaccine doses as gift for Bangladesh

During his stay, he is also scheduled to visit the Orakandi temple in Kashiani upazila of Gopalganj, with an eye on wooing the Matua community in view of assembly elections in West Bengal, where they number nearly 30 million and can influence the vote in a number of seats. Orakandi serves as the headquarters of the community.

Modi will also visit the Jessoreswari Devi Temple at Ishwaripur under Shyamnagar in Satkhira district.

The VVIP aircraft carrying the Indian Prime Minister and his entourage landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HISA) at 10:30am.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina welcomed her Indian counterpart at the VVIP tarmac of the airport presenting him a flower bouquet.

The Indian Prime Minister was received by a 19-gun salute, followed by a guard of honour by a smartly turned out contingent drawn from Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force at the airport.

Both the prime ministers witnessed the state honour staying on the makeshift dais while the national anthems of the respective countries were played.

Later, the Indian prime minister also inspected the parade.

Also read:India committed to deepening ties with Bangladesh: Modi

On the occasion, ministers, state ministers, civil and military high officials, among others, were present at the airport.

From the airport, the visiting Indian head of government headed to the National Memorial in Savar to pay tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War of Bangladesh.

He will visit Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi in the city to pay tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The Indian prime minister will attend the National Parade Ground programme on Friday afternoon, as the guest of honour on the concluding day of the 10-day twin celebrations.

President Md. Abdul Hamid will be present at the celebration as the chief guest while Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will preside.

In the evening, Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the ‘Bangabandhu-Bapu Museum’ jointly with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center. He will attend a state banquet arranged in his honour by his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina.

On the morning of the second day of his visit on Saturday, Narendra Modi will visit the Mausoleum of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Tungipara in Gopalganj to pay homage to Bangabandhu. His temple visits are also set to take place on Saturday morning.

Also read: Common people happy over Modi's Bangladesh visit: FM

In the afternoon, Narendra Modi will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Prime Minister’s Office.

At the same time, in the presence of the prime ministers of the two countries, various MoUs will be inked and a number of projects inaugurated virtually.

According to Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen more than five Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) are likely to be signed between Bangladesh and India during the Indian premier Narendra Modi’s visit.

Later, the Indian premier will meet President Md. Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban.

Narendra Modi will leave Dhaka for New Delhi in the evening on March 27.