PM reaches New Delhi on two-day state visit
This is the first bilateral visit by any head of government to India after the BJP-led alliance formed its government for the third consecutive time following the Lok Sabha elections.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived in New Delhi this afternoon on a two-day state visit at the invitation of her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.
A flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the prime minister and her entourage landed at Palam Airport in New Delhi at 3:29pm (local time).
Earlier, the flight departed Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 2:03pm.
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Sheikh Hasina was received by a high-level Indian delegation and Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Md Mustafizur Rahman at the airport.
Both sides of the roads were decorated with the national flags of Bangladesh and India and the portraits of Sheikh Hasina and Narendra Modi.
Various types of placards in different languages welcoming Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina were seen on both sides of the road from Palam Airport to Hotel Taj Palace.
This is the first bilateral visit by any head of government to India after the BJP-led alliance formed its government for the third consecutive time following the Lok Sabha elections.
During the visit, both the premiers will have a tête-à-tête (one to one meeting) followed by delegation level talks, and Dhaka and New Delhi would sign several agreements and Memorandum of understandings to strengthen the existing bilateral ties further.
Additionally, discussions on a potential trade pact are expected. Over the past decade, numerous cross-border initiatives have been launched as part of a robust regional partnership plan.
This visit will be Sheikh Hasina's second trip to the Indian capital in less than 15 days, as she was among the dignitaries invited to Modi's swearing-in ceremony on 9 June.
This evening, Minister of External Affairs of India S Jaishankar will call on the prime minister at her place of residence.
On Saturday morning, the red carpet will be rolled out at Rashtrapati Bhavan to receive Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by her Indian counterpart through a ceremonial reception where the national anthems of Bangladesh and India will be played. She will also inspect the guard of honour there.
After that, she will go to Raj Ghat to pay tribute to the Father of the Indian Nation Mahatma Gandhi by placing a wreath at his Samadhi. She will also sign the visitor's book there.
Later on the same day, Sheikh Hasina will go to Hyderabad House to hold a one-to-one meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi followed by delegation level talks.
Both will witness the signing ceremony of the MoUs and agreements. After that, both the prime ministers will give their press statements. Then they will attend a banquet luncheon hosted by the prime minister of India in honour of the prime minister of Bangladesh at Hyderabad House.
In the afternoon, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will call on Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar at his Secretariat.
In the evening, Sheikh Hasina will call on President of India Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
At 6pm (Delhi time), PM Hasina is expected to depart Palam Airport, New Delhi on a flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines and will land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at about 9pm.
