Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Bangladesh, PM Sheikh Hasina Receives Him

Here are the latest developments in the story:

1. As he arrived in Dhaka, PM Modi greeted the people of Bangladesh with a tweet saying, “Hello Bangladesh. I bring with me the affection & goodwill of the people of India”. Before he had left, PM Modi tweeted, “Leaving for Bangladesh. This visit is going to strengthen the bond between our Nations, benefiting people of our countries & our region.”


2. The ratification of the Land Boundary Agreement will be a highlight of the visit. Last month, Parliament passed a historic bill approving the operationalisation of a 1974 India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) that provides for the exchange of 161 enclaves between the two countries.


3. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee arrived in Dhaka last evening. She is the most prominent member of PM Modi’s team. Ms Banerjee, PM Modi and Sheikh Hasina will flag off a bus service between Kolkata and Agartala via Dhaka and the Dhaka-Shillong-Guwahati bus service today.


4. Bangladesh capital Dhaka wears a festive look, with life-size cutouts of PM Modi, Mamata Banerjee and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina dotting the city. Headlines in Dhaka newspapers focused on the visit. “Modi flies in Today, Hopes so High,” said a banner headline of The Daily Star.


5. During the visit, part of his policy to deepen engagement with India’s immediate neighbours, PM Modi will hold wide-ranging talks with Sheikh Hasina, who will also host him to a banquet tonight. Tomorrow, PM Modi will address the Indian community in Bangladesh.


6. He is expected to send a strong message to strengthen the hand of Sheikh Hasina, who has steadfastly helped India curb various militant groups which used to take refuge in that country, besides coming down hard on radical Islamist outfits.


7. Ahead of the visit, PM Modi had lauded Sheikh Hasina for playing an “important role” in making bilateral ties “strong” and said, “I am certain my visit will be beneficial for the people of both our nations and in the larger good of the South Asian neighbourhood.”


8. Bangladesh and India share a 4096-km-long border, most of which is porous, and they are expected to discuss ways to enhance security cooperation. Enhancing rail, road and water connectivity and boosting economic engagement will find priority and a number of pacts are likely to be signed in these areas.


9. India has already said that the long-pending Teesta water-sharing pact with Bangladesh will not be signed during this visit. However, issues relating to sharing of other river waters and waterways are expected to figure in the talks.


10. Bangladesh is an important trading partner for India. The two-way trade in 2012-2013 was USD 5.34 billion with India’s exports to Bangladesh accounting for USD 4.776 billion and imports USD 0.564 million.