PM Modi at Santiniketan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a tour of West Bengal and Jharkhand on Friday during which he will take part in a number of events. PM Modi first visited Santiniketan in West Bengal's Birbhum district where he attended the convocation of Visva Bharati University and also inaugurated the Bangladesh Bhavan within the campus. Bangladesh Prime Minister Minister Sheikh Hasina also attended the ceremony.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was also present during the occasion.
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01:37 pm: It was important for India and Bangladesh to work together for the stability and peace in the region, says PM Modi.
01:33 pm: PM Modi is speaking at the inauguration ceremony of Bangladesh Bhavan at Santiniketan.
12:20 pm: PM Modi, Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina jointly inaugurate Bangladesh Bhavan at Santiniketan. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee also present.
12:08 pm: The government is committed to spend Rs 1 lakh crore to strengthen the education system of the country: PM Modi.
12:05 pm: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is present with us. India and Bangladesh are two separate countries, but our interests are connected. Be it culture or public policy, we learn a lot from each other. One such example is Bangladesh Bhavan: PM Modi in Santiniketan
11:57 am: 'Gurudev' Rabindra Nath Tagore was a global citizen and he still remains one, say PM Modi.
11:51 am: As the chancellor of Visva Bharati University, I seek your apologies. When I was coming here, some students told me that there is no arrangement of drinking water. I want to apologise for all the inconvenience caused to you: PM Modi.
11:42 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaking convocation of Visva Bharati University in West Bengal. It gives me immense pleasure to come here, PM Modi says in Bengali.
11:13 am: PM Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina reach Santiniketan. Both leaders will shortly inaugurate Bangladesh Bhavan.
10:20 am: PM Narendra Modi has arrived in Kolkata from where he will head to Santiniketan in Birbhum district, He was received by Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi and Union Minister Babul Supriyo. PM will attend the convocation of Visva Bharati University in Santiniketan.
The Bangladesh Bhavan features a museum that showcases Rabindranath Tagore's association with the country, the Liberation War of Bangladesh and Indo-Bangla relations.
It was built at a cost of Rs 25 crore, which was provided by the Bangladesh government. A fund of Rs 10 crore would be given to help to maintain the museum premises.
Later in the day, PM Modi will head to Sindri in Jharkhand to lay foundation stone of various projects of the Indian government and the state government.
(With inputs from agencies)
