Sagar Biswas :
Dhaka is taking preparation to receive Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is expected to pay his first official visit to Bangladesh in the first week of next month.
The concerned ministries, including Foreign, Home, Commerce, Shipping, Power and Water Resources, are now planning the elaborate programes under direct supervision of Prime Minister’s Office.
To check up the security system, a six-member advance team comprising protocol officials of Indian External Affairs Ministry already sat in meetings with concerned officials, including Chief Protocol Officer Asad Alam Siam, on Monday and Tuesday to discuss arrangements and accommodation for the delegation during the visit.
The team also met Indian High Commission officials in Dhaka and started visiting some proposed spots, venues and routes. The team would see some other places outside Dhaka with raising a strong
possibility of Modi’s visit out of the capital, sources said. Bangladesh High Commissioner in India Syed Moazzem Ali is already in Dhaka to discuss the overall progress with the officials of PMO.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali is scheduled to fly for Delhi on Friday to discuss the issue in details and fixing the agenda.
The Foreign Office passed a busy time over Modi’s visit also on Tuesday. Earlier on Monday, an inter-ministerial meeting chaired by Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali was held to discuss security preparations, accommodation for the Indian delegation, and signing of agreements and memorandums of understanding [MoU].
Prime Minister’s International Affairs Adviser Gowher Rizvi, Economic Affairs Adviser Masihur Rahman, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, Secretaries and high officials from different ministries were also present at the meeting.
Foreign Office sources said that around 10 to 12 agreements and MoU on bilateral trade, road transport, river communication, coastal shipping, education, culture and marine resources are likely to be signed during the visit of Indian premier.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Qauder, who is now in India in an official visit, has already finalized some issues, including modification of road infrastructure and introducing two bus services between the two countries, officials said.
It is still not confirmed whether Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee, who will be very much needed to sign and execute much-awaited Tessta Water Sharing Treaty, after passing of Land Boundary Agreement in parliament, would accompany Modi.
According to Foreign Office, increasing connectivity would get highest priority during Modi’s visit. In line with the connectivity issue, India has already expressed its desire to construct Payra Deep Sea Port in Bangladesh.
Delhi is also interested to get transit facility in 15 more routes through using Chittagong Port and Mongla Port. At the same time, India wants to extend connectivity in river, rail and road communications to facilitate its people and goods to north-eastern states.
Diplomatic sources said, the Indian Premier, apart from sitting in a meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister, will also hold meeting with President Abdul Hamid.
Besides, the government will confer the “Friends of Bangladesh Liberation War Award” to former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for his special contribution to War of Independence in 1971. The honorary award is likely to be handed over to Modi.
An official of Foreign Ministry said, “India has not yet sent any formal letter about Modi’s visit. However, we are taking preparations based on verbal proposal and targeting first week of next month for Indian Premier’s visit. Usually, the final date of visit is announced around ten days before the date.”
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina first invited Modi to visit Bangladesh when she phoned him on May 18 last year. Modi made a phone call to Hasina on February 13 to wish Bangladesh team’s success in the ICC Cricket World Cup-2015. Modi has already visited Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, China and South Korea.
Dhaka is taking preparation to receive Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is expected to pay his first official visit to Bangladesh in the first week of next month.
The concerned ministries, including Foreign, Home, Commerce, Shipping, Power and Water Resources, are now planning the elaborate programes under direct supervision of Prime Minister’s Office.
To check up the security system, a six-member advance team comprising protocol officials of Indian External Affairs Ministry already sat in meetings with concerned officials, including Chief Protocol Officer Asad Alam Siam, on Monday and Tuesday to discuss arrangements and accommodation for the delegation during the visit.
The team also met Indian High Commission officials in Dhaka and started visiting some proposed spots, venues and routes. The team would see some other places outside Dhaka with raising a strong
possibility of Modi’s visit out of the capital, sources said. Bangladesh High Commissioner in India Syed Moazzem Ali is already in Dhaka to discuss the overall progress with the officials of PMO.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali is scheduled to fly for Delhi on Friday to discuss the issue in details and fixing the agenda.
The Foreign Office passed a busy time over Modi’s visit also on Tuesday. Earlier on Monday, an inter-ministerial meeting chaired by Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali was held to discuss security preparations, accommodation for the Indian delegation, and signing of agreements and memorandums of understanding [MoU].
Prime Minister’s International Affairs Adviser Gowher Rizvi, Economic Affairs Adviser Masihur Rahman, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, Secretaries and high officials from different ministries were also present at the meeting.
Foreign Office sources said that around 10 to 12 agreements and MoU on bilateral trade, road transport, river communication, coastal shipping, education, culture and marine resources are likely to be signed during the visit of Indian premier.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Qauder, who is now in India in an official visit, has already finalized some issues, including modification of road infrastructure and introducing two bus services between the two countries, officials said.
It is still not confirmed whether Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee, who will be very much needed to sign and execute much-awaited Tessta Water Sharing Treaty, after passing of Land Boundary Agreement in parliament, would accompany Modi.
According to Foreign Office, increasing connectivity would get highest priority during Modi’s visit. In line with the connectivity issue, India has already expressed its desire to construct Payra Deep Sea Port in Bangladesh.
Delhi is also interested to get transit facility in 15 more routes through using Chittagong Port and Mongla Port. At the same time, India wants to extend connectivity in river, rail and road communications to facilitate its people and goods to north-eastern states.
Diplomatic sources said, the Indian Premier, apart from sitting in a meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister, will also hold meeting with President Abdul Hamid.
Besides, the government will confer the “Friends of Bangladesh Liberation War Award” to former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for his special contribution to War of Independence in 1971. The honorary award is likely to be handed over to Modi.
An official of Foreign Ministry said, “India has not yet sent any formal letter about Modi’s visit. However, we are taking preparations based on verbal proposal and targeting first week of next month for Indian Premier’s visit. Usually, the final date of visit is announced around ten days before the date.”
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina first invited Modi to visit Bangladesh when she phoned him on May 18 last year. Modi made a phone call to Hasina on February 13 to wish Bangladesh team’s success in the ICC Cricket World Cup-2015. Modi has already visited Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, China and South Korea.
