A red carpet was rolled out for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina when she reached New Delhi on Monday afternoon on a four-day state visit at the invitation of her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.
Cooperation on trade, energy, water sharing of common rivers and Rohingya issues are expected to be top agendas during her tour there. We all know that Dhaka has a historical rock-solid relationship with New Delhi and the relationship between Bangladesh and India has been inscribed with blood.
Sheikh Hasina is expected to have talks with the Indian president, prime minister and vice president while several numbers of MoUs on different fields are expected to be signed during her India visit. Dynamic leadership of Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already helped the friendship of the two counties reach a new height.
The relationship between
Bangladesh and India is tested
The two countries, which have completed 51 years of diplomatic ties, have achieved incredible synergies, setting the stage for exponential increase in ties in the coming days. During the visit, Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to hold bilateral talks and a one-to-one meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Hyderabad House today (Tuesday), the second day of her visit.
Issues related to security cooperation, investment, enhanced trade relations, power and energy sector cooperation, water sharing of common rivers, water resources management, border management, combating drug smuggling and human trafficking will get priority during the talks between the two premiers. After holding the bilateral talks, several MoUs (Memorandum of Understandings) are likely to be signed between the two neighbouring countries while a press statement will be issued later. This time Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India is a very significant one amid the Ukraine crisis, global economic downturn and ongoing Covid-19 pandemic as the two South Asian neighbours seek enhanced cooperation to overcome the challenges.
The relationship between Bangladesh and India is tested. We always remember India's contribution to our Liberation War. We believe our neighbour will offer the olive branch to remove various obstacles and
difficulties in a bid to take forward the “rock-solid friendly relations”.