Modi arrives tomorrow

Visit to benefit both nations, region: Modi

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday described as ‘very strong’ New Delhi’s relationship with Dhaka and said his upcoming visit to Bangladesh will benefit both the countries as well as the South Asian neighbourhood.
He also said he is undertaking the visit with a great sense of enthusiasm and delight.  
“On 6th June, I will begin my 2-day visit to Bangladesh. It is with a great sense of enthusiasm and delight that I visit a nation with which India’s ties have been very strong,” said the Indian prime minister in a post on his Facebook page.
“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,” he said.
Modi also said, “In Bangladesh I will attend several programmes, which include a meeting with PM Sheikh Hasina, who has played an important role in strong India-Bangladesh ties.”
“There will be delegation level talks and signing of agreements. I will join programmes to unveil the plaques for various Grant-in-Aid projects. At the Prime Minister’s Office, plaques of railway, cultural and road projects will be unveiled. Similarly, plaques for various development projects will be unveiled at the new Chancery,” he said.
Describing Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as a friend of India and a pillar of strength and democracy in the South Asian region, Modi said he is eager to visit Bangabandhu National Museum.

He also said that it will be his privilege to receive the award of Liberation War Honour on behalf of his predecessor Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who, as foreign minister and prime minister placed great emphasis on strong ties with Bangladesh and had visited Bangladesh in 1999.
Referring to the passage of the constitutional amendment bill ratifying the Land Boundary Agreement, the Indian prime minister said, “The ratification marks a watershed moment in our ties with Bangladesh.”
“Further, to promote greater people-to-people ties and connectivity, I, along with PM Hasina and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, will flag off bus services on Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala and Dhaka-Shillong-Guwahati routes,” he said.
“I will be visiting the Ramakrishna Mission in Dhaka. It was founded by devotees of the Belur Math in 1899. I will also visit the famous Dhakeshwari Temple in Dhaka,” he added.
Meanwhile, the entire range of issues of mutual interest will be discussed during the official and one-to-one talks between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian Counterpart Narendra Modi, who will arrive in the capital tomorrow on a two-day visit to Bangladesh.
All the preparations are all but complete to welcome the Indian premier to the capital, said sources concerned.
The Indian head of the government will hold bilateral talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina at the Prime Minister’s Office on Saturday, the day of Modi’s arrival, they said, adding that both the prime ministers will also have a tête-à-tête at the same venue.  Besides these talks, a number of agreements, protocols and memorandums of understanding (MoU) will be signed during the visit, said the sources.
According to the sources, during the talks, both sides will mainly cover six broad areas -- security and border management, power and energy sector, trade and commerce, investment and development, sub-regional cooperation, and connectivity and defence.
Other areas of cooperation will also be discussed, they added.
Some of the contentious issues will be discussed during the one to one meeting between Hasina and Modi, some of them will be discussed and raised in the official talks between the two leaders who will be aided by senior officials from both sides and some of the issues will be mentioned in the joint statement to be issued upon the completion of the Indian prime minister’s visit, said the sources.
At her one to one meeting with Modi, Prime Minister Hasina is likely to raise the issues relating to the arrest of Bangabandhu killers living in India, border killing, Teesta agreement, and fall in Teesta water flow, they said.
If the Indian side raises the issue of ‘illegal migration’, Prime Minister Hasina will respond at the one to one meeting, they added.
The issue of drug trafficking and arms smuggling is likely to feature in the joint statement as this is a matter of serious concern for Bangladesh, said the sources.
On water resources, they said that Bangladesh will bring up the issues related to the 38th Joint River Commission meeting, Ganges barrage, basin-wide management of common rivers, Tipaimukh hydro-electric project, sharing of other international rivers and river-interlinking.
Besides, matters relating to power and energy and connectivity and transit will be highlighted during the official discussions of the two prime ministers, they added.

Modi arrives tomorrow

Visit to benefit both nations, region: Modi

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday described as very strong New Delhis relationship with Dhaka and said his upcoming visit to Bangladesh will benefit both the countries as well as the South Asian neighbourhood. He also said he is undertaking the visit with a great sense of enthusiasm and delight. On 6th June, I will begin my 2-day visit to Bangladesh. It is with a great sense of enthusiasm and delight that I visit a nation with which Indias ties have been very strong, said the Indian prime minister in a post on his Facebook page. 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, he said. Modi also said, In Bangladesh I will attend several programmes, which include a meeting with PM Sheikh Hasina, who has played an important role in strong India-Bangladesh ties. There will be delegation level talks and signing of agreements. I will join programmes to unveil the plaques for various Grant-in-Aid projects. At the Prime Ministers Office, plaques of railway, cultural and road projects will be unveiled. Similarly, plaques for various development projects will be unveiled at the new Chancery, he said. Describing Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as a friend of India and a pillar of strength and democracy in the South Asian region, Modi said he is eager to visit Bangabandhu National Museum. He also said that it will be his privilege to receive the award of Liberation War Honour on behalf of his predecessor Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who, as foreign minister and prime minister placed great emphasis on strong ties with Bangladesh and had visited Bangladesh in 1999. Referring to the passage of the constitutional amendment bill ratifying the Land Boundary Agreement, the Indian prime minister said, The ratification marks a watershed moment in our ties with Bangladesh. Further, to promote greater people-to-people ties and connectivity, I, along with PM Hasina and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, will flag off bus services on Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala and Dhaka-Shillong-Guwahati routes, he said. I will be visiting the Ramakrishna Mission in Dhaka. It was founded by devotees of the Belur Math in 1899. I will also visit the famous Dhakeshwari Temple in Dhaka, he added. Meanwhile, the entire range of issues of mutual interest will be discussed during the official and one-to-one talks between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian Counterpart Narendra Modi, who will arrive in the capital tomorrow on a two-day visit to Bangladesh. All the preparations are all but complete to welcome the Indian premier to the capital, said sources concerned. The Indian head of the government will hold bilateral talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina at the Prime Ministers Office on Saturday, the day of Modis arrival, they said, adding that both the prime ministers will also have a tte--tte at the same venue. Besides these talks, a number of agreements, protocols and memorandums of understanding (MoU) will be signed during the visit, said the sources. According to the sources, during the talks, both sides will mainly cover six broad areas -- security and border management, power and energy sector, trade and commerce, investment and development, sub-regional cooperation, and connectivity and defence. Other areas of cooperation will also be discussed, they added. Some of the contentious issues will be discussed during the one to one meeting between Hasina and Modi, some of them will be discussed and raised in the official talks between the two leaders who will be aided by senior officials from both sides and some of the issues will be mentioned in the joint statement to be issued upon the completion of the Indian prime ministers visit, said the sources. At her one to one meeting with Modi, Prime Minister Hasina is likely to raise the issues relating to the arrest of Bangabandhu killers living in India, border killing, Teesta agreement, and fall in Teesta water flow, they said. If the Indian side raises the issue of illegal migration, Prime Minister Hasina will respond at the one to one meeting, they added. The issue of drug trafficking and arms smuggling is likely to feature in the joint statement as this is a matter of serious concern for Bangladesh, said the sources. On water resources, they said that Bangladesh will bring up the issues related to the 38th Joint River Commission meeting, Ganges barrage, basin-wide management of common rivers, Tipaimukh hydro-electric project, sharing of other international rivers and river-interlinking. Besides, matters relating to power and energy and connectivity and transit will be highlighted during the official discussions of the two prime ministers, they added.