United News of Bangladesh

Expressing optimism over strengthening the Dhaka-Delhi relations, Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman has said there will be a visit by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but the dates have not yet been finalised.    Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already invited Prime Minister Tarique, his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman, their daughter Barrister Zaima Rahman to pay a visit to India at a convenient time, an official told UNB, referring to Prime Minister Modi’s letter to his Bangladesh Prime Minister. “A warm welcome awaits you in India,” Modi said in his recent letter handed over to PM Tarique by Speaker of the Indian Lok Sabha Om Birla who represented the government of India at the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected government of Bangladesh. “There will be a visit. We have not yet done the dates. Of course, in the run-up to the visit, we will have activities,” Dr Khalilur told the Indian media during his visit to Mauritius.  Talking to World Is One News in Mauritius, the Foreign Minister said leaders of the two countries had not only exchanged letters but had also spoken.  He said both the leaders wanted to advance the relationship and it is a relationship that is consequential for both the countries. The Foreign Minister returned home on Saturday after visiting India and Mauritius, a senior official told UNB. “The visit and the meetings that I had (in India) were very productive. We talked about how to carry it forward. So, I am hopeful in this objective that we will be carrying forward our work in next few weeks and I feel reasonably optimistic,” Dr Khalilur said in Mauritius, adding that both the countries are willing to engage and talk to take the relationship forward.  External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar met Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman in New Delhi on April 08. Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir was also present at the meeting. The Indian External Affairs Minister reiterated India's desire to engage constructively with the new government and further strengthen bilateral ties. The two sides agreed to explore proposals for deepening the partnership through the relevant bilateral mechanisms. Follow-on official meetings are expected to take place at an early date, said the Indian side, noting that both sides exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest. During the visit, Foreign Minister Rahman also met the National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri.

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.

In an effort to give further impetus to Dhaka-Delhi relations, the two neighbouring countries are now planning to have enhanced engagements, including preparation for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India at a convenient time this year, officials said. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already extended an invitation to his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina to visit India in 2022 in commemoration of the Golden Jubilee of the establishment of diplomatic relations, said an official. Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen is scheduled to leave here on Wednesday for India as the two sides are likely to begin the discussion during his engagements in New Delhi. The Foreign Secretary will first go to Chennai from where he will head towards New Delhi.  Read:PM unveils commemorative stamp marking Amar Ekushey In Chennai, Masud Momen will see the progress of the work as Bangladesh Deputy High Commission is getting operationalised. The Foreign Secretary is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with his Indian counterpart Harsh Vardhan Shringla on February 24. Masud Momen is likely to meet Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar but it depends on availability of the Indian Minister, said an official. The two countries witnessed momentum in their relations last year with a series of engagements, including high-level visits. At the invitation of President Abdul Hamid, Indian President Ram Nath Kovind paid a State visit to Bangladesh from December 15 to 17 last year to attend the 50th Victory Day celebrations here as the guest of honour. Read: PM urges simplifying scientific terms in Bengali for students’ benefit It was the Indian President’s maiden visit to Bangladesh and also his first visit overseas since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Earlier, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had paid a landmark visit to Bangladesh on March 26 and 27 last year and those visits were of “historical significance” given the 50th anniversary of the shared sacrifices of the people of the two countries during Bangladesh’s struggle for Liberation in 1971. As the Indian President and Prime Minister visited Bangladesh last year, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina might visit India at a convenient time this year, the official added. The two countries will continue discussion on the agenda as the visit is unlikely to take place before September, officials said. Connectivity, trade, energy cooperation, water sharing of common rivers are some of the main issues that are expected to come up during the PM’s visit for discussions.

The virtual Summit between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi began on Thursday morning as the two time-tested friends look for joint celebrations of mega events in 2021 and stronger collaboration in post-Covid era.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi will hold a virtual Summit on Thursday as the two time-tested friends look for joint celebrations of mega events in 2021 and stronger collaboration in post-COVID era.

Bangladesh and India will chart out plans to take the "rock-solid and historic" Dhaka-Delhi relations to the next level expanding areas of cooperation between the two countries with a number of engagements in December, officials say.