Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently engaged in comprehensive discussions with Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her visit, emphasizing enhanced collaboration across various sectors such as trade and connectivity.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina commenced her two-day visit to India on Friday, marking the first incoming bilateral state visit by a foreign leader since the new Indian government was formed after the Lok Sabha elections.
“PM @narendramodi extended a warm welcome to PM Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh at Hyderabad House ahead of their bilateral discussions,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on X.
“The two leaders have met each other ten times since 2019, making unprecedented transformations in the relationship,” he added.
In the morning, Prime Minister Hasina visited Rajghat to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi. Subsequently, she received a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan before engaging in talks with Prime Minister Modi.
The discussions focused on revitalizing bilateral relations, particularly in trade, connectivity, and energy sectors.
Hasina’s presence at Prime Minister Modi’s swearing-in ceremony earlier highlighted the close ties between India and Bangladesh, reflecting the upward trajectory of their strategic partnership in recent years.
Bangladesh holds significant importance for India under its “Neighbourhood First” policy, with cooperation spanning across various crucial sectors including security, trade, commerce, energy, connectivity, science and technology, defence, and maritime affairs.
Bangladesh is India’s largest development partner, receiving nearly one-fourth of India’s Line of Credit commitments.
It is also India’s largest trade partner in South Asia, and India ranks as Bangladesh’s second biggest trade partner in Asia.
Notably, India is the largest export destination in Asia for Bangladesh, with approximately USD 2 billion worth of Bangladeshi exports to India recorded in the 2022-23 fiscal year.
These statistics underscore the robust and multifaceted nature of bilateral relations between the two nations.
India and Bangladesh share a 4,096.7 km border, which is the longest land boundary India has with any of its neighbors.
Both countries actively cooperate through various agencies on several fronts, including police matters, anti-corruption efforts, and combating illicit activities such as drug trafficking, counterfeit currency circulation, and human trafficking.
This cooperation underscores their joint commitment to enhancing security and tackling transnational challenges together.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently conducted extensive discussions with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, covering a wide range of topics aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.
Their talks focused on enhancing cooperation in areas such as trade, connectivity, energy, and various strategic collaborations.
This meeting reaffirmed the commitment of both leaders to deepen the relationship between India and Bangladesh across multiple dimensions.
