Dhaka: PM Modi embarked on his first ever international journey post COVID. He arrived in Bangladesh this morning and will be attending the golden jubilee celebrations of the country’s independence, the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and hold talks with his counterpart Sheikh Hasina.
He was welcomed by the PM Hasina and had his first event scheduled at 11am at the National Martyrs Memorial in Savar for a wreath-laying ceremony as the country celebrates 50 years of its independence on Friday within events being held to mark 50 years of diplomatic ties and the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
PMO released a statement on his trip stating,” 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.” He delineates the purpose of the visit not only economical and developmental but as a commitment from India to abide support to the Bangla Nation.
The Daily Star newspaper of Bangladesh quoted Indian Prime Ministers statement that stated,” for instance, India and Bangladesh were able to finally overcome the complications of history through the 2015 Land Boundary Agreement…But had Bangabandhu been at the helm longer, this achievement may have come much earlier”. He also tweeted about Bangladesh’s importance as an important pillar of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.
Besides the national events, PM Modi will also visit the Jashoreshwari Kali Temple. This tour comes up as an important backdrop for West Bengal And Assam Assembly polls where Modi’s government is looking forward to replacing TMC.
Since both the state’s share Bangla land, developments in neighbouring countries would cast its effect on the election bound states.