Dhaka: With the land swap agreement as the centerpiece, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today arrived on a two-day historic visit to Bangladesh where he will hold talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina and ink several agreements, especially in the field of connectivity and trade.
Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar yesterday told the media ahead of Modi's 36-hour visit that the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA), which was approved by the Parliament last month, would help to consolidate and deepen bilateral ties. Both sides would formally ratify the LBA, which envisages transfer of 111 enclaves with a total area of 17,160.63 acres to Bangladesh, while Dhaka is to transfer 51 enclaves with an area of 7,110.02 acres to India. A 6.1-km undefined border stretch will be demarcated.
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India, Bangladesh seal historic Land Boundary Agreement
The two sides exchanged documents regarding the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) that was passed unanimously by the Parliament last month in the presence of Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina. A total 111 border enclaves will be transferred to Bangladesh in exchange for 51 that will become part of India.
Two bus services launched between India and Bangladesh
The bus services—Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala and Dhaka-Shillong-Guwahati—will link West Bengal to three North Eastern states of India via Bangaldeshi capital Dhaka. These bus services are aimed at improving people-to-people contact between the neighbouring countries by enhancing connectivity.
PM Modi visits Bangabandhu Museum
Modi visited the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum to pay tribute to the founder of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The two-storey museum is the former house of Mujibur Rahman.
It has a collection of the Bangabandhu's personal effects and photographs of his life journey, especially during the tumultuous period that led to the creation of Bangladesh in 1971.
Bangabandhu lived here from 1961 till his assassination on the night of 14-15 August 1975: PMO India sais in a tweet.
PM Modi visits 1971 war memorial
Modi visited the National Martyrs' Memorial here and paid tributes to the valour and the sacrifice of those who gave their lives in the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971.
Soon after his arrival here on a two-day visit, Modi drove to 'Jatiyo Smriti Shoudho' (National Martyrs' Memorial) to pay homage to the thousands who laid down their lives fighting for freedom from Pakistan.
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Army bugle played the last post as Modi stood in solemn silence in front of the memorial for some time.As part of the military ritual, the Bangladesh flag was hoisted and lowered to the half mast as the Indian premier offered wreaths at the altar.
Thank you PM Sheikh Hasina for the warm welcome. I look forward to a very good visit that will strengthen ties between India & Bangladesh: PM Modi in another tweet
Hello Bangladesh. I bring with me the affection & goodwill of the people of India: PM Modi on twitter
PM Modi given a ceremonial welcome at Dhaka airport
PM Modi welcomed by Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today arrived here to a red carpet welcome on his maiden visit which is expected to put ties with Bangladesh in a new trajectory, as the two sides will firm up a number of pacts to boost cooperation besides ratifying the long-pending Land Boundary Agreement.
PMO India tweet: Protocol broken to welcome a friend...PM Hasina welcomes PM @narendramodi to Dhaka & a historic visit begins.
In a special gesture, Modi was received at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and a number of her Ministerial colleagues including Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed and Agriculture Minister Moti Choudhury.
Reflecting high expectations from the visit, the capital has been decked up with big hoardings carrying photographs of Modi besides life-size cutouts of him, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Hasina. Banerjee arrived here last night.
PM Modi arrives in Dhaka
PM Narendra Modi leaves for Dhaka
