India will introduce e-medical visa facilities for the citizens of Bangladesh . This announcement was made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a joint press conference following a bilateral meeting with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday. Besides the e-medical visa facilities, it was also announced that a new Assistant High Commission will be opened in Rangpur to facilitate the people of North-Western Bangladesh. At the joint press conference regarding the bilateral matters with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Saturday, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, “India is our most important neighbor and a trusted friend.”
On this day, several important agreements were finalized during the meeting between the leaders and representatives of the two countries. Among them, the bilateral cooperation agreement in the Indo-Pacific maritime region is notable. Referring to this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked Sheikh Hasina. He said, “Through this maritime cooperation, both countries will move forward together on the path of the blue economy.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reflected on the relationship between the two countries and highlighted the initiatives taken over the past year. He said, “Bangladesh is at the confluence of our Neighborhood First Policy, Act East Policy, Vision SAGAR, and Indo-Pacific Vision. Over the past year, we have successfully completed many important projects for public welfare together. Trade in Indian Rupees has commenced. The world’s longest river voyage on the Ganges River between India and Bangladesh has been successfully completed.”
In the joint press statement on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Although we have met 10 times in the past year, today’s meeting is special because Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is our first state guest of our third term.” On Friday, Sheikh Hasina and the delegates from the government of Bangladesh arrived in Delhi for a two-day state visit. On Saturday morning, a formal reception ceremony was held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present to welcome Hasina and her entourage.
President Draupadi Murmu’s horse mounted regiment escorted Hasina’s convoy from the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan to the inner premises. Following this, a formal “Guard of Honor” was presented by the three services of the Indian Armed Forces. Before the commencement of the Modi-Hasina bilateral talks at Hyderabad House, Hasina paid her tribute at the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat. Modi said, “The world’s largest river cruise between India and Bangladesh has been successful on the Ganges River.” He also mentioned that a technical team will visit Bangladesh for Tista conservation and management.
He highlighted that several major initiatives have been implemented in just one year. The Prime Minister mentioned that 54 different rivers have connected India and Bangladesh. He said that the construction work of the first cross-border pipeline between India and Bangladesh has started. He also mentioned that the India-Bangladesh Friendship Satellite will elevate the relationship between the two countries to new heights. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has invited Narendra Modi to visit Bangladesh. She referred to India as a ‘trusted friend’. She expressed her belief that amidst global conflicts in various places, India and Bangladesh have fostered friendship.
