President Kovind to visit Bangladesh from December 15

From its Independence to the Covid crisis, India has always helped Bangladesh. The President's upcoming visit reflects the high priority that both countries attach to the bilateral relationship.

New Delhi: At the invitation of the President of Bangladesh, Abdul Hamid, his Indian counterpart Ram Nath Kovind, will pay a three-day State Visit to Bangladesh from December 15 to 17 to attend the 50th Victory Day celebrations of Bangladesh.

During the visit, the President will hold a delegation-level meeting with the President of Bangladesh. Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina will call on the President, and Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen will also meet him, the MEA said, in a release.

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla landed in Dhaka on Tuesday (December 7) morning. Shringla, who is on a two-day visit on Dec 7-8, was received by his counterpart, Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh, Ambassador Masud Bin Momen. 

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had paid a State Visit to Bangladesh from March 26 to 27, 2021, to join the celebrations of the golden jubilee of the Independence of Bangladesh, the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 50 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh.

"Bangladesh is a major pillar of India's Neighbourhood First Policy," the MEA said. 

India and Bangladesh share progressive, comprehensive, and substantial cooperation in areas ranging from security, border management and defence, water resources, trade, transport & connectivity, and others. Both countries have cooperated closely to address challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The upcoming visit of the President on this historic occasion is a reflection of the high priority that both countries attach to the bilateral relationship. It also reaffirms the shared desire of both countries to consolidate and strengthen the multifaceted and irreversible partnership, based on historical and cultural ties, mutual trust and understanding, the MEA said.

India-Bangladesh friendship has traversed a long journey since the 1970s, and a Shonali Adhyaya – Golden Chapter – has been scripted, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Monday.

MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi wrote: "Today we mark 50 years of India recognizing an independent, sovereign Bangladesh. 
India was one of the first countries to establish bilateral diplomatic ties with Bangladesh on December 6, 1971." 

Notably, the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 coincided with the Bangladesh Liberation War that commenced on December 3, 1971, and continued until December 16.