PM Modi and Sheikh Haseena during a meeting on Saturday. (Photo: Twitter @MEAIndia)PM Narendra Modi in Bangladesh Highlights: India and Bangladesh on Saturday signed five MoUs to further enhance bilateral ties between the two nations during Prime Minister Narendra Modi delegation-level meeting with his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina. PM Modi is on a two-day visit to the neighbouring country where he also paid tribute Sheikh Mujibur Rehman by laying a wreath at ‘Mausoleum of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’ in Tungipara.
Addressing the Matua community in Bangladesh’s Orakandi earlier in the day, he said both India and Bangladesh want to see peace, stability and love in the world. “Both India and Bangladesh want to see the world progressing through their own progress. Both the nations want to see stability, love, and peace in the world instead of instability, terror, and unrest,” the Prime Minister said.
At the onset of his second day in Bangladesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Jeshoreshwari and Orakandi Temples in southwestern Shatkhira and Gopalganj to offer prayers. “Today, I got the opportunity to offer prayers before Maa Kali…I prayed to her to free the human race from COVID-19,” the Prime Minister said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina (AP Photo/File)
Had a productive meeting with PM Sheikh Hasina, says PM Modi after meeting with Sheikh Hasina.
Commerce and connectivity, cooperation and water resources, security, defence, power and energy, new areas like Artificial Intelligence, environment, societal application of nuclear energy were also part of the discussion, Shringla said.
"A significant part of our third line of credit will go to civil nuclear cooperation. Transmission lines of Ruppur Nuclear Power Plant will be developed by Indian companies under the line of credit. Value of these transmission lines will be worth over $1 billion," Foreign Secretary Shringla.
"There's very active collaboration and cooperation among India, Bangladesh, Nepal& Bhutan under BBIM group. We spoke about Motor Vehicle Agreement that is in fairly advanced stage. We want to take it further. We're facilitating Bangladeshi exports to both these countries via India," said Foreign Secretary.
"PM Modi and PM Hasina decided to celebrate December 6, the day on which India formally recognized Bangladesh, as 'Maitri Diwas,'" said Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla after Modi Hasina meet.
Bangladesh's PM Sheikh Hasina presented a gold & a silver coin released on the occasion of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to PM Modi. She also handed over a silver coin released on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's Independence
PM Narendra Modi hands over a representational item to Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina as a symbol of India's gift of 1.2 million COVID vaccine doses.
PM Narendra Modi hands over a representational key of 109 life-saving ambulances to Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka.
India and Bangladesh on Saturday signed five MoUs to further enhance bilateral ties between the two nations during Prime Minister Narendra Modi delegation-level meeting with his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina, PTI reported. PM Modi is on a two-day visit to the neighbouring country where he also paid tribute Sheikh Mujibur Rehman by laying a wreath at 'Mausoleum of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman' in Tungipara
PM Narendra Modi holds talks with Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka.
PM Modi shares a moment from his visit to Orakandi.
PM Modi pays tribute to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Tungipara.
PM Modi visits Jeshoreshwari Kali Temple in Bangladesh.
PM Modi said India is moving forward with the mantra of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, and Sabka Vishwas', and Bangladesh is its co-passenger in it. "Bangladesh is presenting a strong example of development and change in front of the world and India is your co-passenger in these efforts," he added. --PTI
Speaking in Bangladesh's Orakandi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "During Corona pandemic, India & Bangladesh have proven their capabilities. Today both nations are facing this pandemic strongly and fighting it together. India is working by considering it its duty that Made in India vaccine reaches the citizens of Bangladesh."
Both India and Bangladesh want to see peace, stability and love in the world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday, while addressing the Matua community in Bangladesh’s Orakandi.
“Both India and Bangladesh want to see the world progressing through their own progress. Both the nations want to see stability, love, and peace in the world instead of instability, terror, and unrest,” the Prime Minister said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday offered prayers at a Matua temple in Bangladesh's Orakandi, the birthplace of Hindu mystic figure and Matua community's spiritual guru Harichand Thakur. Modi, who was wearing a mask, offered prayers at the Harichand-Guruchand Temple, where he was welcomed with 'Dhaak, Shankh, Ulu' in line with local rituals.
Orakandi is the abode of hundreds of Hindu Matua community, a large number of whom are residents of West Bengal. Ahead of his visit, Modi had said he is looking forward to his interaction with representatives of the Matua community at Orakandi, from where Sri Sri Harichand Thakur disseminated his pious message.
Analysts said Modi's planned temple visit carry a political significance at the time of the ongoing assembly elections in West Bengal. Last time when Prime Minister Modi visited Bangladesh in 2015, he offered puja at Dhakeshwari temple in the national capital. Bangladesh has taken extra security measures for the Indian premier's visit in the wake of protests by few leftist and Islamist groups.
In 2016, the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) said their latest vital sample statistics report found the country's total population to be 15.89 crore by the end of 2015 with the number of Hindus at 1.70 crore in the Muslim-majority nation. (PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday offered prayers at the centuries-old Jeshoreshwari Kali temple in Ishwaripur village in southwestern Bangladesh and announced that India will build a multipurpose community hall for the worshippers.
Modi, who was covering his face with a mask, was welcomed in a traditional way upon his arrival at the temple.
Inside the temple, Modi offered prayers and sat on the floor while the priest was reciting the religious texts.
"Feeling blessed after praying at the Jeshoreshwari Kali Temple," Modi tweeted after offering prayers at the temple in southwestern Shatkhira district, bordering India.
"PM @narendramodi places hand made Mukut on Ma Kali. Mukut made of silver with gold plating. Hand made over three weeks by a traditional artisan," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted.
Speaking outside the temple, Modi said that he prayed to Goddess Kali to free the human race from COVID-19.
Noting that a large number of devotees from across the border and Bangladesh visit during 'Maa Kali mela' at the temple, Modi said a community hall is needed which should be multi-purpose so that when people come here during Kali puja, it is useful to them too.
Modi said India will build a multipurpose community hall at the temple.
"It should be useful for social, religious and educational events for local people. Most importantly, it should act as a shelter for all at the time of disasters like cyclones. India will do construction work. I express my gratitude to the Bangladesh government that they have wished us well for this," Modi said.
According to Hindu mythology, the Jeshoreshwari Kali temple is one of the 51 Shakti Peeths, scattered across India and neighbouring countries. Records suggest a Hindu king set up the temple in the 16th century.
Ahead of his visit to Bangladesh, Modi said on Thursday that he looks forward to offering prayers to Goddess Kali at the Jashoreshwari Kali temple located in Ishwaripur village in Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira, which borders West Bengal. (PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, joined by his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina, visited the Bangabandhu Mausoleum Complex in Tungipara this morning, where they paid tribute to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
After visiting the Jeshoreshwari Kali Temple in Ishwaripur on the second day of his visit to Bangladesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: "Today, I got the opportunity to offer prayers before Maa Kali...I prayed to her to free the human race from COVID19."
The Congress and the BJP on Friday sparred over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remark that he did satyagraha for Bangladesh's freedom, with the opposition party questioning the statement's veracity and the ruling party asserting that it was true.
Addressing the main golden jubilee celebrations of Bangladesh's Independence and the birth centenary of its founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Dhaka in the presence of his counterpart Sheikh Hasina and President Abdul Hamid, Modi recalled the 1971 war and said the pictures of atrocities that the Pakistan Army inflicted on the people in then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) used to disturb people in India.
"I must have been 20-22 years old when I and my colleagues did satyagraha for Bangladesh's freedom," he said. Tagging the prime minister's remarks, Tharoor said, "International education: our PM is giving Bangladesh a taste of Indian 'fake news'. The absurdity is that everyone knows who liberated Bangladesh."
Another Congress leader Jairam Ramesh shared a cartoon taking a dig at Modi and tweeted, "Entire Political Science by Narendra Modi." BJP's IT cell chief Amit Malviya tweeted, "Was Prime Minister Modi part of satyagrah organised by Jana Sangha for recognition of Bangladesh? Yes, he was." (PTI)
Invoking the history of Bangladesh, the brutal repression by the Pakistani Army and India’s role in its liberation 50 years ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday unveiled his roadmap for a shared future that he said was “just waiting for countless…moments full of goodwill, and of mutual trust”.
In what is seen here as his assurance to resolve differences, the Prime Minister said that both sides are very much aware of the “sensitivity” of the task ahead and the need to make “meaningful efforts” towards resolution. “We have demonstrated that with mutual trust and cooperation, solutions can be found for all issues,” he said.
Echoing and reciprocating this was Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina. India, being the largest country in the region, she said, needs to play a pioneering role in building a stable, politically and economically vibrant South Asia. “If we move forward hand in hand, the development of our people is inevitable,” she said while chairing her country’s 50th anniversary celebrations where Modi was the guest of honour. (PTI)
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina visited the Bangabandhu International Conference Center in Dhaka on Friday evening. (ANI)
At least four people were killed in Chittagong on Friday after police fired at protesters during a demonstration against a visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, police officials said.
"We had to fire teargas and rubber bullets to disperse them as they entered a police station and carried out extensive vandalism," Rafiqul Islam, the police official told Reuters, referring to protesters.Modi arrived in the capital Dhaka for a two-day visit to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence.
The protesters in Chittagong were from the Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, an Islamist group opposed to the visit of Modi, who critics say has been pushing a Hindu-first agenda in India. (PTI)
India is not only our neighbour, we have a historical, social, cultural heritage and geographical rapport. The people and government of India were immensely involved the evolution process of Bangladesh during our liberation war in 1971: Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina. (ANI)
India sheltered about 10 million people who fled from Bangladesh in the face of persecution by Pakistani soldiers, in the face of killing, genocide and rape. India gave them shelter, food and medication. They helped our freedom fighters with all types of cooperation, says Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina.
"By the joint operation of India-Bangladesh allied forces, the final victory was achieved on 16th December, 1971. A notable number of Indian soldiers sacrificed their lives along with our freedom fighters and attained martyrdom. I remember their sacrifice with great honour," she added. (ANI)
After killing Bangabandhu, the people who grabbed power had tried to wipe out his name from the minds of the people. We can only say that without a principle, without history, a nation can't progress, Sheikh Hasina said. She added that she remembers with great anguish 15th Aug 1975 — a dark night for Bangladesh when the Father of Nation was assassinated. "My mother, 3 brothers, 2 sisters-in-law and uncle were brutally killed," the Prime Minister said. (ANI)
Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina thanks PM Modi for awarding the prestigious Gandhi Peace Prize 2020 to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. 'On this very auspicious moment, I must say India indeed honoured a worthy leader of south Asia and a real follower of Gandhiji through this award,' she added. (ANI)
India has now become one of our best development partners. Government of India was beside us during our good and bad times. This time India hands over 109 Ambulances for people of Bangladesh. I extend my heartiest thanks to PM Modi, his government and people of India. Before that India had cooperated with us and gifted us Covid-19 vaccines: Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina. (ANI)
I extend my heartiest thanks to PM Narendra Modi who has consented to grace this occasion even amidst this pandemic. Today is end of the 10-day celebrations. The celebrations had started from 17th March 2020 but due to pandemic, we'd had to close down most of our programmess. That is why in 2021, we've extended celebrations of birth centenary (of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman) up to 16th Dec 2021: Bangladesh's PM Sheikh Hasina. (ANI)
India is very happy that Made in India Covid-19 vaccines are being used by our brothers and sisters of Bangladesh: PM Narendra Modi in Dhaka. (ANI)
We must remember that we have similar opportunities in the fields of trade and commerce, but at the same time, we've similar threats like terrorism. The ideas and powers behind such types of inhumane acts are still active. We must remain vigilant and united to counter them: PM Modi in Dhaka. (ANI)
I would like to remind our brothers and sisters of Bangladesh with pride that the struggle for independence of Bangladesh was one of the first movements that I participated in. I must have been 20 or 22 years old when I and my colleagues did Satyagraha for Bangladesh's freedom, says Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (ANI)
I am announcing Swarna Jayanti scholarship for youths of Bangladesh, PM Narendra Modi says in Dhaka. The Swarnajayanti Fellowship is a research fellowship awarded annually by the Department of Science and Technology for notable and outstanding research by young scientists, applied or fundamental, in biology, chemistry, environmental science, engineering, mathematics, medicine and physics. (ANI)
On completion of 50 years of relationship between India and Bangladesh, I would like to invite 50 entrepreneurs of Bangladesh to visit India and join our start-up initiative and meet our venture capitalists. (ANI)
Today in Bangladesh, the blood of those who fought for their liberation and the blood of Indian soldiers are flowing together. This blood will form such a relationship that will not break down under any type of pressure and will not fall prey to any kind of diplomacy: PM Modi (ANI)
It is a matter of pride for Indians that we got the opportunity to honour Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with Gandhi Peace Prize, says Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (ANI)
Sheikh Rehana, the younger daughter of Bangladesh's Father of Nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, receives Gandhi Peace Prize 2020 which has been conferred upon him posthumously. (ANI)
The Dawoodi Bohra community in Bangladesh welcomed PM Modi in Dhaka today.
Prime Minister Modi has assured his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina that if India develops a vaccine for Covid, her country will receive it at the same time, according to Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen. "He kept his word and with this, he has won the hearts and minds of people. We paid for it in advance," he told ANI.
"India provided 2 mn vaccines as gift & PM Modi, on the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh & 100th anniversary of father of our nation, is giving another 1.2 mn vaccines as a gift. They assured that the contract will be met on time, We would like to buy more," he added.
Speaking about PM Modi's two-day visit to Bangladesh, the country's foreign minister AK Abdul Momen said, "Focus of the visit is celebration. Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina & PM Modi have reached such height of diplomatic maturity that we've been resolving all our critical issues through dialogue and discussion."
"Without a single bullet, we're achieving our goals. For India, their eastern border is secured because of strong relationship with Bangladesh. For us, land boundary finalised, maritime boundary with India finalised, water sharing of Ganga finalise," he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived here on Friday on a two-day visit to Bangladesh during which he will attend the celebrations of the golden jubilee of the country's independence, the birth centenary of 'Bangabandhu' Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and hold talks with his counterpart Sheikh Hasina.
Modi, who is visiting Bangladesh on his first trip to a foreign country since the outbreak of the coronavirus, was received by Prime Minister Hasina at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport upon his arrival.
"Landed in Dhaka. I thank PM Sheikh Hasina for the special welcome at the airport. This visit will contribute to even stronger bilateral relations between our nations," Modi tweeted. The prime minister travelled to Dhaka on the newly-inducted custom-made Boeing 777 aircraft. He wore his mask before alighting from the aircraft and exchanging pleasantries with Hasina.
A salute of 19 guns and Guard of honour were accorded to Prime Minister Modi at the airport. The prime minister had on Thursday said he will hold substantive discussions with Hasina during the visit, as he expressed happiness that his first foreign tour after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic will be to a friendly neighbouring country with which India shares deep ties.
"Our partnership with Bangladesh is an important pillar of our Neighbourhood First policy, and we are committed to further deepen and diversify it. We will continue to support Bangladesh's remarkable development journey, under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's dynamic leadership," Modi tweeted ahead of his visit. (PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. He was welcomed by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, with whom he is set to hold a number of talks over the next two days.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka to receive PM Narendra Modi as he commences his two-day visit to the country.
In a statement issued to mark the 50th Independence Day of Bangladesh, President Ram Nath Kovind said, "Our multifaceted cooperation in diverse sectors has been strengthened with strong political commitment of both governments."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975 deprived the region of the destiny that could and should have been "ours to share" as he asserted that it was time to once again chart a bold ambition for partnership between India and Bangladesh.
In an opinion piece titled 'Imagining a different South Asia with Bangabandhu' published in The Daily Star newspaper on Friday, Prime Minister Modi promised that India will remain Bangladesh's partner as they jointly march towards the golden future for which Bangabandhu, and millions of patriotic Bangladeshis, and indeed thousands of Indians, gave their all.
"The assassination of the Father of Bangladesh deprived the region of the destiny that could and should have been ours to share," Modi said.
"As we look back on Bangabandhu's life and struggle, I ask myself, what could our subcontinent have looked like, had this modern-day giant not been assassinated?" wrote Modi, who is visiting Bangladesh on his first trip to a foreign country since the outbreak of the coronavirus.
Modi said the Bangabandhu's killers wanted to reverse the gains of Bangladesh's independence, for which he had led a heroic struggle.
"They also wanted to strike a mortal blow to Bangabandhu's dream of building a cooperative, peaceful and harmonious subcontinent," he said.
Despite unflinching commitment to his cause, and despite all the persecutions he suffered, Bangabandhu retained a generosity of spirit that is a mark of true greatness, Modi said, adding that the Bangladeshi leader's progressive belief in fairness, equality and inclusiveness is captured in the words he wrote in the 1950s, "I know at least this much: no one should be murdered because he holds views different from mine." (PTI)
Hello and welcome to our LIVE Blog! Follow this space for the latest updates on PM Narendra Modi's two-day diplomatic visit to Bangladesh.