Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to embark on a significant two-day state visit to India starting Friday, aimed at bolstering the already strong ties between the two nations. This visit marks the first incoming bilateral state visit by a foreign leader since the formation of India’s new government following the Lok Sabha elections.
During her visit, Hasina will engage in wide-ranging discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, where both leaders are expected to finalize several agreements enhancing cooperation across various sectors. The Ministry of External Affairs highlighted that apart from meetings with Prime Minister Modi, Hasina will also meet with President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.
Strategic relations between India and Bangladesh have seen significant progress in recent years under India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy, encompassing areas such as security, trade, energy, connectivity, and defense. Notable achievements include the inauguration of the Maitri Setu bridge and the Chilahati-Haldibari rail link, emphasizing enhanced connectivity between the two nations.
Bangladesh holds a pivotal position as India’s largest development partner in terms of Line of Credit commitments, with substantial bilateral trade reaching USD 15.9 billion in the fiscal year 2022-23. The visit is expected to further solidify the close partnership and explore avenues for deeper collaboration beneficial to both countries.
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