Sheikh Hasina meets Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House

NEW DELHI: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met her Indian counterpart PM Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House on Tuesday. PM Hasina began her four-day visit to India on Monday.
While PM Hasina laid a wreath and paid tribute at Delhi's Rajghat on Tuesday, she received a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
PM Modi received Hasina as she arrived at the Rashtrapati Bhavan where external affairs minister S Jaishankar was also present.
PM Hasina said she feels happy whenever she visits India. "India is our friend. It is a pleasure for me to visit India, especially because we always recall the contribution India has made during our liberation war. We have a friendly relationship, we are cooperating with each other," the Bangladeshi Prime Minister said.
PM Hasina is also set to meet President Droupadi Murmu and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday.
Soon after arriving in New Delhi on Monday, the Bangladeshi PM met EAM Jaishankar and discussed issues of bilateral interest. She also visited Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah, a prominent pilgrimage tourist attraction in Delhi. She welcomed by Darshana Jardosh, MoS, textiles and railways, upon her arrival in the capital.
Hasina's visit to further strengthen ties
Hasina's visit is crucial and is expected to further strengthen the multifaceted relationship between India and Bangladesh. Issues, which top the agenda are upgrading defence cooperation, expanding regional connectivity initiatives and establishing stability in South Asia.
This is her first visit after both nations' bilateral relations touched their 50th year in 2021.
PM Modi visited Bangladesh in 2021. Maitri Diwas celebrations were held in 20 capitals around the world, including Delhi and Dhaka. Prime Ministers of both the countries have met 12 times since 2015.
India and Bangladesh have sought to create a model for regional cooperation besides reviving several connectivity initiatives over the last few years. The Akhaura-Agartala rail link will reopen soon, and it is anticipated that Agartala and Chittagong will be connected by air in a few weeks.
India has been a hub of medical treatment for Bangladesh nationals. Of the 2.8 lakh visas issued in 2021, 2.3 lakh were medical visas. Bangladesh is currently India's biggest visa operation globally. In 2019, 13.63 lakh visas were issued.
(With inputs from agnecies)