Highlighting the historic bondage, Indian President Droupadi Murmu has expressed hope that the relations between the two countries will further be strengthened in the coming days based on goodwill, trust, understanding and mutual respect. She made the remarks when outgoing Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Muhammad Imran met her at the latter’s office at Rashtrapati Bhaban on Tuesday. During the meeting, the High Commissioner conveyed greetings and warm regards to the President and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. They discussed various issues of bilateral cooperation including the recent successful visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India, which has further consolidated the existing relationships between the two neighbouring countries, said the Bangladesh High Commission in a media release.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has sent one metric tonne of ‘Amrapali’ mangoes as a gift to Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi. The mangoes were sent to the residents of the Indian President and Prime Minister of India through the diplomatic channel on Friday, said an official.

Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have greeted people on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. "On the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, I extend my best wishes and greetings to all the fellow citizens, especially our Muslim brothers and sisters," the President said in his message. "On the auspicious occasion of Eid, let us resolve to rededicate ourselves to the service of humanity and to improve the lives of the poor and needy," he added. Modi, who's currently on a three-nation tour of Europe, also took to Twitter to convey his greetings to citizens on Eid. Also Read: Indian PM gets second dose of Covid vaccine "Best wishes on Eid-ul-Fitr. May this auspicious occasion enhance the spirit of togetherness and brotherhood in our society. May everyone be blessed with good health and prosperity,” the PM tweeted. Though Hindus make up nearly 80% of India's 1.30 billion population, Muslims comprise roughly 15%.    

The upcoming State visit of Indian President Ram Nath Kovind to Bangladesh on the historic Victory Day is a reflection of the high priority that both countries attach to the bilateral relationship, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said on Monday. “It also reaffirms the shared desire of both countries to further consolidate and strengthen the multifaceted and irreversible partnership, based on historical and cultural ties, mutual trust and understanding,” MEA said in a statement officially announcing the State visit of Indian the President to Bangladesh on December 15-17. Kovind will attend the 50th Victory Day celebrations of Bangladesh during the visit at the invitation of President Abdul Hamid. Also read: Bangladesh-India ties: Hasina says now focus should be on trade, connectivity The Indian President will hold a delegation level meeting with President Hamid. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will also have a meeting with the President. Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen will also call on him. Earlier, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had paid a State visit to Bangladesh from March 26 to 27, 2021 to join the celebrations of the golden jubilee of the independence of Bangladesh, the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 50 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh. Also read: Indian Foreign Secretary Shringla likely to visit Dhaka Dec 7-8 “Bangladesh is a major pillar of India’s Neighbourhood First Policy,” said the MEA. Bangladesh and India share progressive, comprehensive and substantial cooperation in diverse areas ranging from security, border management & defence, water resources, trade, transport & connectivity, health, culture & people-to-people ties, energy & power to development partnership and sub-regional cooperation. Both countries have closely cooperated in addressing challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, it said.

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.

Speculation is rife that veteran politician Sharad Pawar could be the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) choice for the post of India's President. The presidential elections are due in India next year. What has bolstered the rumours is Pawar's 50-minute meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the latter's residence in the national capital on Saturday morning. "Rajya Sabha MP Shri Sharad Pawar met PM Narendra Modi," the Prime Minister's Office tweeted, tagging a photo of the meeting. READ: BJP Office set on fire in India’s West Bengal, party blames Trinamool However, earlier this week, the 80-year-old chief of the regional Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) denied that he's a candidate for the post of President amid reported strains in the alliance ruling the western state of Maharashtra. Pawar's NCP is in the alliance. "It is wrong to say that I am a candidate for the Presidential election," Pawar told the media on Wednesday. Political pundits, however, claimed that Modi's BJP could well be keen on making Pawar a candidate for the post of President as he was the one who had taken the initiative to cobble together an opposition wall ahead of the last general elections. "The country will go to polls in 2024. Pawar could be a threat to the ruling party. So, to pacify him, the BJP could project him as the country's next President," said Prof Anita Sinha, a political analyst. READ: Mithun Chakraborty joins India's ruling BJP   Pawar is a prominent politician in India. During his long political career, Pawar has served as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra thrice and also held the posts of Defence and Agriculture Minister in the federal government. The astute politician is the president of NCP which he founded in 1999, after separating from the Congress party, now in opposition. READ: BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly to join BJP next week?

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Sunday sent 2,600kg of mangoes as a gift for her counterpart Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and other political leaders will also receive the mangoes. The mangoes were sent through Jashore's Benapole land port. The shipment arrived at the Benapole-Petrapole check post in the afternoon. Also read: Humanity will overcome pandemic soon: Modi writes to Hasina After the completion of customs and port formalities, the Bangladeshi trucks carrying 260 cartons of mangoes crossed the border.

Police Thursday stopped opposition Congress party's march to meet Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and detained Priyanka Gandhi and other leaders, officials said.

Former finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith on Wednesday sent a message praying for the early recovery and better health of former Indian president Pranab Mukherjee while closely following his health updates.