Indian Prime Minister Modi pays respects to Bangladesh Liberation War martyrs

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has paid respects to the martyrs of Bangladesh’s Liberation War against Pakistan after he arrived in Dhaka on a two-day state visit.

He went to the National Memorial at Savar around 11:25am on Saturday.

Housing and Public Works Minister Mosharraf Hossain, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq, local MP Enamur Rahman and Dhaka Deputy Commissioner Tofazzal Hossain Miah were among others who welcomed the Indian prime minister.

Modi then placed a wreath on the base of the memorial.

A smartly turned out contingent drawn from Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force gave him a guard of honour there.

He then signed the visitors book and planted a ‘Uday Padma’ at the sapling point of the memorial.

The motorcade of the Indian prime minister started for Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 to pay homage to the Father of the Nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

He arrived at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 10:08am and will stay at Pan Pacific Sonargoan Dhaka Hotel during the visit.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who came on Friday night, will meet him at the hotel at about 3:15pm.

Modi will then leave for the Prime Minister’s Office for discussions 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 on Sunday 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.