Indian President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday said they will remain closely connected with their Bangladeshi friends to jointly achieve development and prosperity, and to meet the aspirations of the people of the two countries.  "India values your extraordinary goodwill and friendship and I'm confident that the bond forged by blood and sacrifice in 1971 will continue to bind our nations together in future," he said. The Indian President made the remarks while addressing a reception accorded to the Indian community and friends of India before wrapping up his three-day "historic" state visit to Bangladesh.  Read: Indian President wraps up his 3-day Bangladesh visit President Kovind, who was deeply touched by the warmth and affection of the people of Bangladesh, said Bangladesh has a special place in the hearts of Indians.  "Ours is a uniquely close relationship based on age-old ties of kinship, shared language and culture. Our ties have been nurtured by the sagacious leadership of the two countries," he said. While paying homage to Bangabandhu at his home in 32 Dhanmondi, President Kovind said he was reminded of the declaration of independence that Bangabandhu had issued in Dhaka on 26 March 1971, the atrocities and genocide faced by the people of Bangladesh and the armed struggle of the Mukti Bahini against the brutal Pakistani occupation forces.

Terming Bangabandhu an ideal of pluralism and democracy, visiting Indian President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday said Bangladesh is a development partner of his country. “Our partnership is comprehensive and vibrant,” President Kovind said when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met him at his palace of residence at Hotel Sonargaon here. PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting. The Indian President said he is happy to be in Bangladesh as it marks three great occasions -- Bangabandhu Birth Centenary, Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh’s Independence and 50 Years of Indo-Bangla Diplomatic Relations. Read:Dhaka, Delhi eye more achievements through joint efforts with solid stability Talking about the pandemic, the Indian President said Covid-19 is an “unseen power” that destroyed everything. He said Bangladesh was the first country to receive Covid-19 vaccine from India and thanked Bangladesh for sending medicines to India to tackle the virus. The Indian President hoped that Bangladesh will emerge as a more prosperous and developed country under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina. Appreciating Bangladesh’s support to India in different international forums, Kovind said the Bangabandhu-Bapuji joint digital exhibition was remarkable. “And Bangabandhu Chair has been established in Delhi University,” he said, adding that India is focusing on connectivity between the two countries. The Indian President thanked Sheikh Hasina for sending a very good gift of mangoes to Indian leaders.

Bangladesh and India want to achieve more through mutual cooperation and discussions giving the people of the two countries more benefits in the next 50 years with solid stability in the entire region. “Good relations between Bangladesh and India are an example for other countries. In the next 50 years, we hope to reach our higher development goals by mutually helping each other,” Foreign Minister  AK Abdul Momen told reporters after his meeting with visiting Indian President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday. During his meeting with the Indian President,  Momen discussed bilateral issues and both sides reiterated their wish to further consolidate the existing friendly ties between the two countries. Read:Gifts from President: What Kovind brings for Hasina! State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen were also present at the meeting with Kovind.  Momen apprised him of the excellent progress in bilateral cooperation and of future joint projects, including in the area of connectivity. While talking to reporters, the state minister said the continued cooperation between the two countries established peace and stability in the region and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina conveyed to the Indian President that this cooperation will go a long way. He said the two countries resolved many issues while pending issues will be resolved through discussions. Shahriar said the prime minister conveyed to the Indian President that Bangladesh does not treat anybody as a minority rather everyone enjoys equal rights in the country. 

Visiting Indian President Ram Nath Kovind has brought cakes, sweetmeats and biscuits specially made at Rashtrapati Bhavan for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. President Kovind also shared his delight over mangoes sent by Prime Minister Hasina and said those were “very sweet and tasty.” State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam said this mentioning that the Prime Minister gladly received the sweetmeats, cakes and biscuits from the Indian President. Read:Indian President pays homage to Bangabandhu India’s leading media widely reported on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's gift of sweet Haribhanga mango that had been sent to Indian President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other political leaders in India in July this year. Some of the Indian media described the gift as “mango diplomacy” while Dhaka says it is just sharing happiness with friends and neighbours in this historic year. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen met the Indian President on Wednesday. This is the Indian President’s first visit to Bangladesh. At the invitation of President Abdul Hamid, the Indian President will attend the 50th Victory Day celebrations of Bangladesh, closing ceremony of the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 50 years of Bangladesh-India diplomatic relations on Thursday.

Indian President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday paid homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, the place which bears the testimony to the life and work of Bangabandhu. Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Rehana accompanied President Kovind to visit the museum at Dhanmondi 32. He signed the visitors' book kept there after paying respect to Bangabandhu. Rehana also presented Kovind with a set of books. Read:Gifts from President: What Kovind brings for Hasina! Earlier, President Kovind visited the National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar and placed wreathes there, paying tributes to the brave hearts of the Liberation War of Bangladesh. He arrived here on a three-day State visit as a “unique example” of the existing good relations between the two neighbouring countries.

Indian President Ram Nath Kovind is scheduled to arrive here on Wednesday on a three-day state visit as a “unique example” of the existing good relations between the two neighbouring countries. At the invitation of his Bangladesh counterpart Abdul Hamid, the Indian President will be here to attend the 50th Victory Day celebrations of Bangladesh, the closing ceremony of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 50 years of Bangladesh-India diplomatic relations. President Kovind will present a T-55 tank and a MiG-29 fighter jet used during the Great Liberation War of Bangladesh to the President for preservation and display at the Bangladesh National Museum. Read: Efforts on to change Washington’s decision of sanctions: FM Momen The First Lady of India, the daughter of the Indian President, Minister of State for Education, two Members of Parliament, the Indian Foreign Secretary and other high-ranking officials from various departments will be accompanying the Indian President, said Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen at a virtual media briefing. Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen was, among others, present. “India is a neighbour of Bangladesh and a true friend. The Bangladesh-India relations are not just about borders. The unwavering support of this friendly country in the great War of Independence of Bangladesh in 1971 laid the foundation of good relations between the two countries,” Dr Momen said. Connecting virtually from Turkey, he said Bangladesh-India bilateral relations have become stronger and more dynamic under the strong leadership of the Prime Minister, the worthy daughter of Bangabandhu.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has requested the HSC examinees to leave homes early on Wednesday to arrive early at exam centres. DMP  has imposed restrictions on many roads in different parts of the city for ensuring the safe movement of the guests who are scheduled to come to Bangladesh on Wednesday. DMP Commissioner Shafiqul Islam said this at a press briefing over the law-and-order situation, held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangshad Bhaban on Tuesday. Read: 54 arrested in DMP’s anti-narcotics drives Indian President Ram Nath Kovind will attend the Victory Day celebrations here on December 16 apart from his other key engagements. President Kovind will be visiting Bangladesh at the invitation of his Bangladesh counterpart Abdul Hamid. “Vehicular movements will be restricted on many roads on Wednesday due to the arrival of the Indian President. So, HSC examinees have been requested to leave their homes early. If any HSC examinee will face any trouble to reach their exam centers in time, he/she has been requested to make a phone call to 999 for help. Police will take steps to reach them in their respective exam centers,” he said. Besides, a four-tier security measures have been taken in the city marking the Victory Day and the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, he said. All venues will be swept with SB, SSF, Rab and DMP dog squads. Plainclothes police will be deployed in the high-rise buildings adjacent to the Parliament and its surrounding area. Besides, the bomb disposal unit and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) will kept ready for emergency service, he added. Bangladesh is celebrating the Golden Jubilee of its Independence and the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The three-day programme will begin on December 15. The programmes will be arranged maintaining health protocol amid the Covid-19 outbreak. Read:Almost 14,000 people arrested in DMP’s special anti-narcotics drive in 8 months Foreign guests of seven countries will participate in the programme at Parade Square ground. Answering a question about any threat over security, the DMP Commissioner, said “There is no specific threat but we have taken additional security measurers after keeping the global situation and internal issues in mind.” In a query over any possible militant activities, Shafiqul said “The militants are always active and they do not want to lose any scope. So, we have made our plan after keeping it in our mind.”

Indian President Ram Nath Kovind will attend the Victory Day celebrations here on December 16 apart from his other key engagements. President Kovind will be visiting Bangladesh at the invitation of his Bangladesh counterpart Abdul Hamid. Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen confirmed the Indian President’s visit to Bangladesh. Bangladesh is also expecting a high-level participation from Bhutan. Read: Veteran politician Sharad Pawar ruling BJP's choice for next Indian President? This will be the first visit by the 14th president of India to Bangladesh. He was sworn in on July 25, 2017. Bangladesh is celebrating the Golden Jubilee of its Independence and the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The two countries also decided to commemorate December 6 as Maitri Diwas (Friendship Day), the day when India recognized Bangladesh in 1971. Bangladesh and India are working together eyeing two mega events next month - Maitri Diwas and Victory Day of Bangladesh - on December 6 and December 16 respectively with exchange of high-level visits, officials said. Read: Hasina’s care packages of sweet mango reach Indian President, PM On March 26 to 27, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a state visit to Bangladesh to join the celebrations of the Golden Jubilee of the Independence of Bangladesh, the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 50 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh. The visit symbolized the partnership of half a century between Bangladesh and India that has strengthened, matured and evolved as a model for bilateral relations for the entire region, both sides recognized.

 

Indian President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday said India wants Bangladesh to become more vibrant in social and economic development.