Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla arrived here on Tuesday morning on a two-day visit as India officially announced its President’s state visit to Bangladesh from December 15-17. Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen received his Indian counterpart Shringla upon his arrival by a special aircraft. Apart from his meeting with Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, Shringla will meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during his visit. Though the Indian government is yet to announce the name of the chief guest for its Republic Day parade that falls on January 26, it could not be known whether Shringla is carrying any message or special invitation from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his Bangladesh counterpart. The Indian Foreign Secretary is scheduled to meet the Prime Minister on Wednesday.  He will also call on Road Transport and Bridges Minister Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Tuesday.  Also read: Dhaka-Delhi connectivity positively impacts Bangladesh, North East: Shringla India’s relationship with Bangladesh is one of the strongest pillars of its "Neighbourhood First Policy”, said the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  In this special year, Bangladesh and India are jointly commemorating 50 years of the establishment of their diplomatic ties. The Foreign Secretary’s visit to Bangladesh, a day after the Maitri Diwas celebrations, will provide an opportunity to review the wide-ranging cooperation between the two countries, MEA said. The visit will also help prepare for the State visit of President of India Ram Nath Kovind to Bangladesh from December 15 to 17. 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 Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 50 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh. During his visit here, Prime Minister Modi extended an invitation to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to visit India in 2022 in commemoration of the Golden Jubilee of the establishment of diplomatic relations. On Monday in New Delhi, the Indian Foreign Secretary said India will cooperate increasingly with Bangladesh, noting that the next 50 years of two countries' shared journey will bring even greater satisfaction for both sides. Loosely translated, he said, this Maitri Diwas means ‘Friendship Day" but ''Maitri" has a much deeper connotation. "It’s a relationship that has a depth, and has a significance beyond the ordinary. It’s a bond that has stood the test of time," Shringla said at a discussion "Maitri Diwas, 50th Anniversary of India-Bangladesh Diplomatic Relations" held in New Delhi. Also read: Bangladesh to get increased cooperation from India: Shringla Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) hosted the event. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sent a video message on the occasion. The upcoming state visit of Indian President Ram Nath Kovind to Bangladesh on this historic occasion is a reflection of the high priority that both countries attach to the bilateral relationship, says the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). “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,” the MEA said in a statement officially announcing the state visit of Indian the President to Bangladesh on December 15-17. At the invitation of President Abdul Hamid, the President of India will pay the state visit to attend the 50th Victory Day celebrations of Bangladesh. During the visit, the 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. “Bangladesh is a major pillar of India’s Neighbourhood First Policy,” said the MEA. It said 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.

Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar met Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud in New Delhi on Tuesday and discussed various issues of mutual interest. They noted the steady progress in bilateral relations across all domains, and also discussed the media and public perceptions in that regard.

Bangladesh and India have agreed to accelerate the momentum that exists between the countries with an eye on the next 50 years of cooperation in diversified areas. Emphasis was also put on enhanced connectivity, not just between Bangladesh and India but beyond the two countries to ensure broader economic benefits. “We not only need to continue the momentum, we need to accelerate the momentum,” Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said sharing the outcome of talks between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on Saturday evening. Modi had a “productive meeting” with Hasina and reviewed the full range of Bangladesh-India relations and discussed ways to deepen economic and cultural linkages in the times to come. He said Prime Minister Hasina raised the Teesta issue while the Indian Prime Minister reiterated India's commitment to that end, sharing India’s sincere and continued efforts to conclude the agreement. Also read: Hasina seeks fair share of Teesta water The Indian Foreign Secretary said cooperation in the areas of common rivers water is an important issue.

Expressing happiness that his first foreign tour after the onset of Covid-19 would be to Bangladesh, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday said that New Delhi is committed to deepening and diversifying its ties with Dhaka. "Our partnership with Bangladesh is an important pillar of our Neighbourhood First policy, and we are committed to further deepen and diversify it," Modi tweeted on the eve of his two-day state visit to Dhaka. "We will continue to support Bangladesh's remarkable development journey, under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's dynamic leadership," the Indian PM stressed. Modi will visit Bangladesh on March 26-27 to attend the golden jubilee celebrations of the country's independence and the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The Indian PM is also slated to visit Bangabandhu's birthplace. Also read: Modi lauds Bangladesh’s remarkable growth under Hasina's leadership  "I am happy that my first foreign visit after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic will be to our friendly neighbouring country, with which India shares deep cultural, linguistic and people-to-people ties," Modi said in a pre-departure statement released by the Indian government. "I will be having substantive discussions with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, following our very productive virtual meeting in December last year. I also look forward to my meeting with His Excellency President Abdul Hamid, and to interactions with other Bangladeshi dignitaries," he said. Describing Bangabandhu as one of the tallest leaders of the last century, the Indian PM said, "I look forward to my participation at the National Day celebrations tomorrow, which will also commemorate the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman." "Bangabandhu was one of the tallest leaders of the last century, whose life and ideals continue to inspire millions. I look forward to visiting Bangabandhu’s Samadhi in Tungipara to pay my respects to his memory," he added. Also read: Delhi to bolster defence ties with Dhaka during Modi's visit Indian Foreign Ministry Wednesday said that Delhi and Dhaka will strengthen bilateral defence and security ties and "are also likely to ink a number of pacts during Prime Minister Modi's visit". “Both sides will be signing a range of agreements during Modi's visit. These agreements will be covering a number of areas of our cooperation -- disaster management, oceanography and trade," Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla told the media Wednesday. "A number of new announcements -- bolstering cooperation in areas ranging from health, railway connectivity, border development and start-ups -- are also expected to be made," he had said. Talks on bolstering defence and security cooperation between the two countries are also on the agenda of Modi's meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, according to the top Indian diplomat.  Also read: Modi to bring 12 lakh more vaccine doses as gift for Bangladesh "Security and defence is an important part of our cooperation with Bangladesh. We have in recent years signed an agreement on defence cooperation with Bangladesh and undertaken joint military, training and capacity building exercises on a regular basis," Shringla had said. India and Bangladesh share a 4,096-kilometre-long international border, the fifth-longest land border in the world. Both countries also share historical, civilisation and cultural ties.

India and Bangladesh will strengthen bilateral defence and security ties and are also likely to ink a number of pacts during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day state visit to Dhaka, the Foreign Ministry said Wednesday. Modi will visit Bangladesh on March 26-27 to attend the golden jubilee celebrations of the country's independence and the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The Indian PM is also slated to visit Gopalganj’s Tungipara area, Bangabandhu's birthplace. “Both sides will be signing a range of agreements during Modi's visit. These agreements will be covering a number of areas of our cooperation -- disaster management, oceanography and trade," Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla told the media in New Delhi. Also read: Modi due Friday as main attraction of 10-Day celebration "A number of new announcements -- bolstering cooperation in areas ranging from health, railway connectivity, border development and start-ups -- are also expected to be made," he added. Talks on bolstering defence and security cooperation between the two countries are also on the agenda of Modi's meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, according to the top Indian diplomat. Also read: Bangabandhu's vision lights Dhaka-Delhi friendship: Modi "Security and defence is an important part of our cooperation with Bangladesh. We have in recent years signed an agreement on defence cooperation with Bangladesh and undertaken joint military, training and capacity building exercises on a regular basis," Shringla said. "It is a regular practice for chiefs of our armed forces to visit Bangladesh. We have excellent defence cooperation between our countries. As we go along, we will continue to add more and more depth and momentum to that relationship,” the Indian Foreign Secretary added. Also read: Modi's visit to highlight priority attached to Bangladesh: South Block On bilateral relations, Shringla said, "Ties between the two countries have no parallel. Indian soldiers had fought and were killed alongside Bangladeshis for independence." India and Bangladesh share a 4,096-kilometre-long international border, the fifth-longest land border in the world. Both countries also share historical, civilisation and cultural ties.

Bangladesh reiterated the importance it attaches to signing of the Teesta water sharing agreement with India and sought increased cooperation between two Border Forces with a view to bringing down border killings to zero, during the Foreign Secretary-level talks between the two countries on Friday.

Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Monday said there has been a positive progress in discussion on sharing the water of common rivers including Teesta.

Bangladesh and India want to launch a travel air bubble without any delay by discussing the issue in details in New Delhi while a virtual meeting of the next Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) is under discussion, officials said.

Indian High Commission in Dhaka on Monday described some "factually incorrect and speculative reports" surrounding the visit of Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla to Dhaka last week as mala fide (ill-intentioned) attempts that are highly "mischievous and misleading".

BNP senior leader Nazrul Islam Khan on Wednesday urged the government to inform people about whether Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla came here for ‘mending friendship or for any other reason’.