Indian Prime Minister Modi’s 35-hour whirlwind Bangladesh travel plan

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to arrive at the VVIP Tarmac of Shahjalal International Airport by a special Indian Air Force flight at 10:15am on Saturday.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 5 June 2015, 02:10 PM
Updated : 5 June 2015, 03:31 PM

His Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina will receive him, and then he will be accorded a state reception that include 19 gun salutes, and guard of honour.

He will drive straight to the National Memorial at Savar to pay his respects to independence heroes.

At 12:20pm, he will arrive at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 to pay homage to the Father of the Nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and visit the museum.

He will lodge at Pan Pacific Sonargoan Dhaka during his two-day visit.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is coming ahead of Modi, will meet him at the hotel at about 3:15pm.

Modi will then leave for the Prime Minister’s Office to talk tête-à-tête with Hasina at about 4:15pm.

Both leaders will witness the exchange of instrument of ratification of Land Boundary Agreement, and signing of MoUs, agreements and exchanges of different documents.

Hasina will host a dinner on Saturday night at the hotel.

On Sunday morning, the Indian leader will begin the day with prayers at Dhakeshwari National Temple at 8:45am. Then he will visit the Ramkrishna Mission.

After 10am, he will come to the Indian High Commission’s New Chancery Complex at Baridhara to attend High Commission’s programmes.

Then he will go back to his hotel before leaving for Bangabhaban to meet President Md Abdul Hamid.

He will receive the Award of Liberation War Honour on behalf of former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and attend a private lunch hosted by the president.

Leader of the Opposition Raushon Ershad will call on him at his hotel suite at about 3:10pm, before he delivers a public speech at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre at 6:30pm.

However, sources said some political leaders including BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will also call on Modi before his public speech.

But the meetings have not yet been included in his official itinerary.

He has a free slot between 3:30pm and 6:20pm, according to the tentative schedule.

He will leave Dhaka at about 8:10pm and will be seen off by Prime Minister Hasina at the VVIP Tarmac.

Modi earlier said his visit would focus on trade and connectivity and be beneficial for the people of the both countries.