Indian president’s Dhaka visit to reflect high priority to ties: New Delhi

PBC News:  The Indian Ministry of External Affairs on Monday said the upcoming visit of Indian President Shri Ram Nath Kovind to Dhaka to attend the historic 50th Victory Day celebrations of Bangladesh is a reflection of the high priority that both countries attach to the bilateral relationship.

It also reaffirms the shared desire of both countries to further consolidate and strengthen the multifaceted and irreversible partnership, based on historical and cultural ties, mutual trust and understanding, it said in a media release, disseminated by the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, BSS reports.

At the invitation of Bangladesh President M Abdul Hamid, the Indian President will pay the state visit to Bangladesh from December 15 to 17.

During the visit, Kovind will hold a delegation level meeting with the Bangladesh President while Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will call on him.

Foreign Minister Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen will also call on him during the three-day visit.

Earlier, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had paid a state visit to Bangladesh from March 26 to 27, 2021 to join the celebrations of the golden jubilee of the independence of Bangladesh, the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 50 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh.

Terming Bangladesh as a major pillar of India’s Neighbourhood First Policy, the Indian external affairs ministry said both countries have closely cooperated in addressing challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.

India and Bangladesh share progressive, comprehensive and substantial cooperation in diverse areas ranging from security, border management and defence, water resources, trade, transport and connectivity, health, culture and people-to-people ties, energy and power to development partnership and sub-regional cooperation, the release added.