Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina to meet PM Modi today, will hold delegation level talks

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet his counterpart from Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina on Saturday for delegation level talks on wide-ranging issues, including defence and security. The two leaders are expected to sign 25 bilateral agreements. 

During her four-day long visit, which comes after a gap of seven years, Hasina will also call on President Pranab Mukherjee, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and meet opposition leader Sonia Gandhi. She will visit Ajmer on Sunday and will meet Indian business leaders on Monday.

"The upcoming visit is expected to further expand the cordial and cooperative relationship between India and Bangladesh and build on the strong ties of friendship and trust between the two leaders," a joint statement issued by the two countries said earlier.

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Hasina will also join a function at Manekshaw Centre to honour Indian Armed Forces members who embraced martyrdom in Bangladeshs War of Liberation in 1971.

Diplomatic quarters of both sides expected that the reciprocal visit of the Bangladesh premier would take the Dhaka-New Delhi "historic relations" to a new height unveiling newer dimensions of cooperation in various sectors including trade and commerce, economy and connectivity.

It is Hasina's first bilateral visit to India in her current term as prime minister.

Ramping up cooperation in defence and security will be a major focus area of the talks between Modi and Hasina and apart from an MoU to provide USD 500 million credit, another pact is likely to be inked to formalise regular defence engagements.

Issues like combating terrorism, containing radicalism and enhancing security cooperation between the two countries are likely to figure prominently besides stalemate over the Teesta pact during talks between Modi and Hasina.

(With PTI Inputs)

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