Indian PM Narendra Modi arrives in Dhaka 'to deepen friendship between two countries'

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Dhaka 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), Dhaka at 10.30am on Friday. 

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. 

After the formalities at the airport, Modi is scheduled to go straight to the National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar to pay rich tributes to the heroic martyrs of the Liberation War of Bangladesh by placing a wreath.

Shortly afterward, he will visit the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 to pay homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

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.