Clicky
National, Back Page

Modi likely to visit Orakandi


Bangladeshpost
Published : 03 Mar 2021 09:43 PM | Updated : 04 Mar 2021 12:34 AM

BSS, New Delhi

Alongside Bangabandhu Memorial in Tungipara, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Orakandi, a sacred shrine of “Matua” community in Gopalganj and “Satipith” in Shikarpur, Barishal during his upcoming Bangladesh visit.

Modi is set to visit Bangladesh on March 26-27 at the invitation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to join the 50th anniversary celebration of Independence of Bangladesh, the Birth Centenary of Bangabandhu and the 50th year of Bangladesh-India diplomatic ties.

The Indian Premier is set to visit Bangabandhu memorial in Tungipara to pay homage to Bangladesh’s Founding Father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on March 27 and on the same day he is expected to visit Orakandi temple and “Satipith”.

Diplomatic sources told BSS here today that if everything goes well PM Modi is likely to visit Orkandi Temple to pay homage to Harichand Thakur, the founder of the “Matua” community and “Sugandha Shaktipith” (Satipith) in Shikarpur under Barishal district.

The sources wishing not to be named however, said that PM Modi has also desired to visit Rabindra Kuthi Bari in Kushtia and the ancestral home of Bagha Jatin, a revolutionary leader against the British rule, in Kushria.

An official of Bangladesh mission here said that ‘it was almost certain that the Indian PM is visiting Orkandi Temple but his visit to “Satipith” and other areas are not confirmed yet although discussion is high on the visit’.

He said separate groups of Indian High Commission officers in Dhaka and Bangladesh security personnel have already visited these areas to examine security aspects there ahead of the high profile visit.

However, media reports here said that Modi would pay the visit in Orakandi temple to win over the “Matua” community voters ahead of the West Bengal state government polls scheduled to begin on March 27. The state assembly election would be held in eight phases.

The “Matua” community votes is believed to be a decisive factor in the North 24-Parganas and Nadia district as the BJP and TMC (Trinamool Congress) are involved in a huge tussle to win over the voters there.

Besides, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jay Shankar will visit Dhaka tomorrow to set agendas regarding the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh.

According to the PM Modi’s visit schedule, he (Modi) will arrive in Dhaka on March 26 by a special aircraft and will leave Dhaka for New Delhi on the next day (March 27) evening after wrapping-up his 2-day Dhaka visit. It would be the Modi’s first foreign visit after the Covid-19 pandemic.

On the first day (March 26), the Indian PM will join the celebration programmes with other dignitaries and the next day, he will hold summit with his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh high commissioner sources told BSS here recently.