Dhaka diary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Dhaka on Saturday. (Source: PTI photo)

Took part in stir for bangla freedom: PM Narendra Modi
As Bangladesh honoured former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee for his contribution to the 1971 liberation struggle, Narendra Modi shared a “secret” that his first political activity — as a member of RSS — was volunteering in the Satyagraha in support of Bangladesh liberation. He said he travelled from his village to Delhi to be part of the Satyagraha.

Speaks in bengali, wins hearts
After wowing the audience at the international convention centre by speaking a few lines in Bengali, PM Modi also ended on a personal note — that he wants to return to Bangladesh to visit Noakhali where Gandhi stayed, to Tagore’s house and to have an adda session on the Padma river.

Officials get a sweet surprise
Mishti Doi (sweet curd), sandesh and other sweets were served at the lunch hosted by Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid for Modi. The officials took succour from the fact that good dessert was being served, as they have been eating only vegetarian meals for the last two days.

Ramakrishna mission visit
When Modi visited the Ramakrishna Mission ashram in Dhaka, he was surrounded by monks who started chanting Vedic shlokas. Modi, who knew the shlokas by heart, joined in. He also visited the Dhakeshwari temple and performed aarti.