Hasina-Modi talks today, several MoUs, agreements likely to be inked

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi are scheduled to hold bilateral talks in New Delhi today (June 22).

During the meeting, Dhaka and New Delhi are expected to sign several agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoU) to strengthen bilateral ties further.

The two prime ministers will also have a tête-à-tête after the bilateral talks.

Earlier, Sheikh Hasina reached New Delhi Friday afternoon for a two-day visit at the invitation of Narendra Modi, her second trip to India in less than 15 days following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s third consecutive term in office.

A flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, carrying the prime minister and her entourage members, landed at Palam Airport in New Delhi at 3:29pm (local time).

Sheikh Hasina was received by a high-level Indian delegation and Bangladesh high commissioner to India Md Mustafizur Rahman at the airport.

This visit marks Sheikh Hasina’s first bilateral meeting with Narendra Modi after her fourth consecutive term as prime minister, following the January 7 general election. Earlier, she attended Narendra Modi’s third-term oath-taking ceremony on June 9.

A ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan will welcome Sheikh Hasina today with both national anthems played. She will inspect the guard of honour and later, pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat.

Subsequently, Sheikh Hasina will head to Hyderabad House for the one-on-one meeting with Narendra Modi followed by delegation-level talks, witnessing the signing ceremony of MoUs and agreements. Afterward, both prime ministers will give press statements and attend a banquet luncheon, hosted by Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House.

In the afternoon, Sheikh Hasina will call on India’s vice-president Jagdeep Dhankhar at his secretariat and later, meet president Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. She is scheduled to depart from Palam Airport, New Delhi at 6:00pm (Delhi time) on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight for Dhaka.