A 19-gun salute and Guard of Honor were accorded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his arrival in Dhaka

In a special gesture, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Ministers from her cabinet welcomed Prime Minister Modi at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Friday in Dhaka.

“A special visit begins with a special gesture. PM Sheikh Hasina welcomes PM@narendramodi,” tweeted the Indian Prime Minister’s Office on the warm reception that the Indian Prime Minister received at Dhaka airport.


This is the Indian Prime Minister’s historic visit to celebrate Mujib Borsho- the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties between India and Bangladesh and 50 years of Bangladesh’s war of liberation.

Earlier on the eve of his visit to Bangladesh, Prime Minister Modi had taken to twitter to highlight the significance of India-Bangladesh partnership. He reiterated India’s commitment to Bangladesh’s development.

“Our partnership with Bangladesh is an important pillar of our Neighbourhood First policy, and we are committed to further deepen and diversify it. We will continue to support Bangladesh's remarkable development journey, under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's dynamic leadership,” he had said.

In his departure statement ahead of his visit to Bangladesh the Indian Prime Minister said, “I am happy that my first foreign visit after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic will be to our friendly neighbouring country, with which India shares deep cultural, linguistic and people-to-people ties.”

He noted that he will be having substantive discussions with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, following our very productive virtual meeting in December last year. I also look forward to my meeting with His Excellency President Abdul Hamid, and to interactions with other Bangladeshi dignitaries, he said.

“My visit will not only be an occasion to convey appreciation for Bangladesh’s remarkable economic and developmental strides under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visionary leadership, but also to commit India’s abiding support for these achievements,” he stated.

“I will also express India’s support and solidarity for Bangladesh's fight against COVID-19,” added the Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, in a statement, President Ram Nath Kovind on behalf of the people of India extended warm greetings and felicitations to the Bangladesh President, the government and the people on the occasion of the 50th National Day of Bangladesh.

President Kovind said, “ India and Bangladesh are celebrating 50 years of our exemplary and unique bilateral ties. Our multifaceted cooperation in diverse sectors has been strengthened with strong political commitment of both governments.”

Calling Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as one of the tallest statesmen of the 20th century, President Kovind said that the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh’s victory in the Liberation War is magnified by the equally memorable birth centenary of Bangabandhu.

On Friday, Bangladesh’s National Day, Indian External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar congratulated his Bangladesh counterpart AK Abdul Momen and the Government and people of Bangladesh. He called PM Modi’s presence in Dhaka a testimony to the unbreakable bond between the two countries.

“Congratulate FM@AKAbdulMomen and the Government & people of Bangladesh on their National Day. Jointly, celebrating #MujibBorsho, Golden Jubilee of Liberation War & 50 years of our diplomatic ties. PM @narendramodi’s presence in Dhaka today is a testimony of our unbreakable bond,” he tweeted.