Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina arrives today for 2-day State visit

Hasina was among the seven leaders from India’s neighbourhood who attended the swearing-in ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on June 9.

Modi and Hasina are scheduled to hold talks on Saturda. Both sides will likely sign agreements for cooperation across several sectors.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced the visit on Thursday. “At the invitation of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina will pay a state visit to India on June 21 and 22. This will be the first incoming bilateral state visit after the formation of the government in India following the 18th Lok Sabha elections,” it said in a statement.

Apart from holding bilateral consultations with Modi, the visiting leader is scheduled to call-on President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, the MEA said.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is scheduled to call on Hasina on Friday evening.

The statement said: “India and Bangladesh share deep-rooted bonds of history, language, culture, and multitude of other commonalities. The outstanding nature of bilateral ties is reflected in an all-encompassing partnership based on sovereignty, equality, trust, and understanding. This partnership has evolved as a model for bilateral relations for the entire region and beyond.”

The first half of 2024 has witnessed a spur of bilateral interactions between the two countries — after Prime Minister Hasina assumed office in January 2024 after her consecutive fourth term victory, Prime Minister Modi held a telephonic conversation on 8 January 2024.

Newly appointed Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud paid an official visit to India from 7-9 February 2024. This was his first bilateral official visit abroad after assuming charge as Bangladesh Foreign Minister in January 2024.

Hasina participated in the Munich Security Conclave as her first official visit abroad after assuming charge, and Jaishankar met her on the sidelines.

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra visited Dhaka from 8 to 9 May 2024 to sustain the momentum of visits and exchanges between both countries.

During 2023, intense engagements took place at the leaders’-level. Both Prime Ministers jointly inaugurated the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline on 18 March 2023 through video conferencing.

Hasina also participated virtually in the Inaugural Session of the Voice of the Global South Summit on 11 January 2023 and the second Virtual Voice of the Global South Summit on 17 November 2023.