Staff Reporter :Bangladesh is set to roll out a red carpet reception as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Dhaka today (Saturday) morning on a two-day visit at the invitation of his Bangladesh counterpart.Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will receive her Indian counterpart at the VVIP tarmac of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 10:15am as a special aircraft would carry Narendra Modi to Dhaka after he assumed the office last year. He will inspect a Guard of Honour at the airport. This visit, first to Bangladesh by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reflects the importance attached by India to the bilateral relationship.Mamata Banerjee is the only Chief Minister of an Indian state West Bengal will be accompanying the Prime Minister during his visit to Bangladesh.The visit will have special focus on connectivity, security and energy issues apart from signing of a number of instruments and deals, aiming to take the ties between the two neighbouring countries to a newer height.The instrument of ratification on Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) will be exchanged in presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her Indian counterpart and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after talks between the two countries.Bangladesh will mainly focus on connectivity issues while India will highlight security aspects. The Indian Premier will lead a 12-member official delegation, including High Commissioner in Dhaka Pankaj Saran. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and External Affairs Secretary S Jaishankar are the other high officials to be part of the delegation.His entourage will also include 21 members including doctors and personal staff. The media team would comprise only eight members, said an official in the Foreign Ministry.While briefing reporters at the Foreign Ministry yesterday, ahead of the maiden visit of the Indian Premier, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali said Dhaka will mainly focus on connectivity issues during talks with Modi and work is on to build South Asia as an integrated region.The visit is expected to further expand the cordial and cooperative relationship between the two countries and strengthen the ties of friendship and trust between the two peoples.During his visit a number of deals in the areas of connectivity, trade, security and cultural cooperation would be inked between Bangladesh and India.The deals and MoUs are bilateral trade agreement, inland water protocol, coastal shipping deal, bilateral cooperation deal between BSTI and BIS, MoU on Human Trafficking, MoU on Fake Currency Notes, MoU between Coast Guards of Bangladesh and India and exchange of document on Land Boundary Agreement.The Foreign Minister said during the visit regional connectivity and security would be given the top priority.”The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he would implement the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA). He has kept his word. And it is our great achievement,” Mahmood told reporters.He added Instrument of Ratification on Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) would be exchanged in presence of two Prime Ministers after their official talks to be held at Prime Minister’s office on Saturday afternoon.Replying to a query whether sharing of Teesta waters agreement would be signed the Foreign Minister said he “no” and added that the issue was being discussed behind the scene.”The issue would not come up in discussion during the Indian Prime Minister’s visit since we are working on it. “Everything doesn’t come overnight. It’s a continuous process. Have patience for getting a concrete outcome in this regard,” he said.The Foreign Minister said Bangladesh and India will sign a number of important agreements that includes bilateral trade deal, Inland Water Protocol, Maritime Water Connectivity and Cooperation on standardization of products during Modi’s visit to Bangladesh.”Besides separate Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) on prevention of human trafficking and counterfeit notes and security issue would also be signed between the maritime security forces and other concerned institutions of both the countries,” Mahmood said. He said Bangladesh and India have solved many pending issues as bilateral relations between the two countries have reached to a newer height … so the two countries will be able to definitely solve the rest of the pending issues soon.During his visit, the Indian Premier will place wreaths at the National Memorial at Savar and Bangabandhu Museum in the city’s Dhanmondi area.He will pay a courtesy call on President Mohammad Abdul Hamid when Modi will receive “Bangladesh Liberation War Honour” on behalf of Indian former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Bajpayee from the President.During the visit, Kolkata-Agartala and Dhaka-Shilong-Gwahati bus services would be inaugurated. Besides, Khulna-Mongla railway line, Kulaura-Shahbajpur rail connection, Robindra Bhaban in Shilaidah Kuthibari, Moitree Bhaban at Sarda Police Academy, construction works of a bridge on Feni river, Laboratory of Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institutions and a Border Haat would be inaugurated during the tour, he added.Apart from this, he said the Indian Prime Minister will address a distinguished gathering at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) prior to his departure for India on Sunday evening.State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, Foreign Secretary Md. Shahidul Haque and Syed Muazzem Ali, among others, joined the briefing.
