Modi pays homage to Bangladesh's war heroes
The Indian Prime Minister paid homage by placing a wreath at the National Memorial
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid rich tributes to the heroic martyrs of the Liberation War of Bangladesh at National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar.
The Indian Prime Minister paid homage by placing a wreath at the National Memorial.
Earlier, he reached the National Memorial boarding on a helicopter at about 11.45am
On his arrival there, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque, State Minister for Housing and Public Works Sharif Ahmed and General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 9 Infantry Division of Bangladesh Army Major General Shaheenul Haque and high civil and military officials welcomed the Indian leader.
A smartly turned-out contingent drawn from Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force gave him a guard of honour while the bugles played the last post.
The Indian Prime Minister planted a sapling of Arjun tree (Terminalia arjuna) on the memorial premises and signed the visitors' book on the occasion.
"I pay my heartfelt tribute to the patriotic martyrs of Bangladesh, whose glorious sacrifices enabled the birth of this great Nation," Modi wrote in the visitors' book.
He said may every visitor to this revered ground honour the sacred memory of the millions who were slain but not silenced.
Their valour will continue to inspire future generations to fight injustice and defend the cause of righteousness, wrote the Indian Primer.
"On behalf of the people of India, I pray that the eternal flame at Savar remain a lasting reminder of the noble victory of truth and courage over deceit and oppression," he also wrote.
Modi left the National Memorial for the capital around 12.10 pm.
Strict security measures were taken at the memorial and its adjacent areas ahead of his visit there.
Afterward, he will visit the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 to pay homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Dhaka on Friday 10:30am on a two-day state visit to attend the celebration programme of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence.
A special flight carrying Narendra Modi landed at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA).
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received her Indian counterpart at the airport.
The Indian Prime Minister was given 19 Gun salutes and the Guard of Honour.
"This visit will deepen the friendship between India and Bangladesh," said Narendra Modi on his official Facebook page before starting his journey for Dhaka from Delhi.
In the afternoon, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen will call on the Indian premier at Hotel Sonargaon.
Later, the Indian Prime Minister will join the celebration program marking birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's Independence Day as guest of honor at the National Parade Square.
President Md. Abdul Hamid will be present at the celebration as the chief guest while Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will preside over.
In the evening, Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the 'Bangabandhu-Bapu Museum' jointly with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center. He will attend a state banquet arranged in his honor by his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina.
In the morning of the second day of his visit on Saturday, Narendra Modi will visit the Mausoleum of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Tungipara in Gopalganj to pay homage to Bangabandhu.
He is scheduled to visit the Orakandi temple in Kashiani upazila of Gopalganj and the Jessoreswari Devi Temple at Ishwaripur under Shyamnagar in Satkhira district.
In the afternoon, he will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Prime Minister's Office. At the same time, in the presence of the prime ministers of the two countries, various MoUs will be inked and a number of projects inaugurated virtually.
Later, the Indian premier will meet President Md. Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban.
Narendra Modi will leave Dhaka for New Delhi in the evening on 27 March.
