Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to arrive in India ahead of PM Narendra Modi’s oath-taking ceremony.
She is likely to travel between the dates of 7-9 June.
Earlier, Bangladesh’s state-owned news agency announced that PM Hasina had accepted an invitation to visit Delhi to participate in the swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi.
In the recently concluded Indian general election, PM Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the coalition, National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won a historic third straight term, winning 293 seats. A total of 272 seats are required to form a government.
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In a note addressed to Modi, Hasina mentioned that the result of the recently held Lok Sabha election was a “resounding victory” of the BJP-led NDA.
In a telephonic conversation with Modi, she also said, “You carry the hopes and aspirations of the people of India.”
According to the official note issued by PM Hasina’s office, the leader also expressed a “firm belief” that the Indo-Bangla “friendly and close ties would continue in all areas”, as Modi begins the next term with a renewed mandate.
PM Hasina’s visit is rich in symbolism
PM Hasina’s visit is rich in symbolism as the two countries – as well as the two leaders – have developed very close ties since the Modi government came to power in 2014.
This time, the interaction between the two leaders in New Delhi could also deepen this bilateral relations – especially as it comes ahead of PM Hasina’s visit to Beijing in July.
India and Bangladesh have also been seeking to deepen cooperation in several areas, including cross-border trade and the flow of essential food commodities – especially from Delhi to Dhaka. The inflation rate touched 9.89% in May in Bangladesh even as Dhaka presented its annual budget on 6 June.
There is also the issue of water-sharing that Delhi and Dhaka have been keen to resolve – especially the Teesta river water sharing which has been a pending issue for a long.
Therefore, PM Hasina’s visit is drawing attention in India amid the fact that West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has done well in the Lok Sabha election – with her party Trinamool Congress winning 29 seats in the State. Banerjee is often viewed as a hurdle to the successful signing of the Teesta River water-sharing agreement between India and Bangladesh.
When this reporter spoke with the Bangladesh PM’s office for any comments on this, the PM’s office denied to remark on the Teesta issue.
Noorelahi Mina, Deputy Press Secretary to PM Hasina, told this reporter that “in case of any development, official communication would be given”.
He officially confirmed that PM Hasina will be arriving in Delhi on 7 June to attend Modi’s oath-taking ceremony, which is likely to take place on 8 or 9 June.
Earlier today, sources told PressXpress that it is likely that PM Hasina may not attend the ceremony and instead, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud would be present.
Rejecting this, Mina confirmed to this reporter that the “Honourable PM is confirmed to attend… the FM may or may not accompany her.”
Among other South Asian leaders, Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Jugnauth are set to attend the swearing-in ceremony.
In 2014, leaders of regional grouping SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) countries had attended Modi’s first swearing-in ceremony when he took the reins as the prime minister after a massive electoral victory for the BJP.
In 2019, leaders of the BIMSTEC countries attended Modi’s swearing-in ceremony when he became prime minister for the second consecutive term.
In a record-breaking third term, popularly termed as Modi 3.0, the leaders attending the historic ceremony reflect India’s focus on its “Neighbourhood First” policy.
In another significant development, US President Joe Biden made a phone call to Modi on 5 June to congratulate him on his remarkable re-election for a third straight term. Biden also commended India’s democracy and the people of India for participating in the election – over 640 million people went to the polls to vote.
Biden and Modi also discussed US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s upcoming travel to New Delhi to engage the new government on shared US-India priorities, which is likely to happen within days of the swearing-in ceremony.
