Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is on a four-day visit, said India remains a friend of Bangladesh ever and remembered India’s contribution during the liberation struggle.
Hasina was received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Rashtrapati Bhavan where the duo shook hands and posed for the photograph.
She was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Tuesday. After her welcome, Hasina said, “India is our friend. Whenever I come to India, it is a matter of happiness for me, especially because we always remember India’s contribution during our liberation struggle. We have a friendly relationship, we are cooperating with each other.”
The leaders of the two countries are expected to hold extensive talks, after which the two sides are likely to unveil measures to boost cooperation in the areas of defence, trade and river-water sharing.
On Thursday, Hasina is scheduled to visit Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Dargah in Ajmer, Rajasthan.
Hasina’s delegation includes Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, Railway Minister Mohd Nurul Islam Suzanne, Liberation War Minister AKM Mozammel Haque and Economic Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister Masiur AKM Rahman.
She had last visited New Delhi in October 2019. In March 2021, Prime Minister Modi visited Bangladesh to attend events organised to mark the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 50 years of Bangladesh’s liberation struggle.
India and Bangladesh finalised the text of the agreement on the interim sharing of waters of the Kushiyara river last month and the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is likely to be signed on Tuesday.