Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday arrived in Bangladesh on a two-day visit to the nation, his first tour to a foreign country since the Covid-19 outbreak last year. He was received by his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. “Landed in Dhaka. I thank PM Sheikh Hasina for the special welcome at the airport. This visit will contribute to even stronger bilateral relations between our nations,” Modi tweeted.

The prime minister travelled to Dhaka on the newly-inducted custom-made Boeing 777 aircraft. He wore his mask before alighting from the aircraft and exchanging pleasantries with Hasina. A salute of 19 guns and Guard of honour were accorded to Prime Minister Modi at the airport.

After his arrival to the country, Modi headed to the National Martyrs’ Memorial at Savar to pay tributes to the 1971 Liberation War martyrs. He planted a sapling of the Arjuna tree at the site and also signed the visitors’ book there.

After planting the sapling, Modi paid homage to the martyrs at the memorial, comprising seven pairs of triangular-shaped walls — each representing a significant chapter in Bangladesh’s history, including the 1952 ‘Bhasha Andolan’ (Language Movement) — through which Bangladesh became an independent nation from Pakistan.

Reacting to Modi’s visit, Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said that the prime ministers of both the countries had reached the heights of diplomatic maturity an resolvedall most critical issues through dialogue and discussion.

“Focus of the visit is celebration. Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina and PM Modi have reached such height of diplomatic maturity that we’ve been resolving all our critical issues through dialogue and discussion,” he said, adding, “Without a single bullet, we’re achieving our goals. For India, their eastern border is secured because of strong relationship with Bangladesh. For us, land boundary finalised, maritime boundary with India finalised, water sharing of Ganga finalised.”

During his visit, Modi will hold “substantive discussions” with Hasina and participate at Bangladesh National Day celebrations. He will also meet Bangladeshi President Abdul Hamid, and interact with other dignitaries.

“PM Narendra Modi emplanes for Dhaka. During his Bangladesh visit he will take part in a wide range of programmes aimed at furthering cooperation with our friendly neighbour,” the PMO tweeted, sharing a picture of Modi boarding the aircraft.

Later on Friday, Modi will join the celebration programme as the guest of honour at the National Parade Square. Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid will be the chief guest at the function, which would be chaired by Prime Minister Hasina. In the evening, Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the “Bangabandhu-Bapu Museum” jointly with his counterpart at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre. He will also attend a state banquet hosted in his honour by Hasina.

On Saturday, Modi will visit the mausoleum of ‘Bangabandhu’ Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Tungipara in Gopalganj district, the first Indian dignitary to ever visit the place. He is also scheduled to visit the Jeshoreshwari and Orkandi temples in southwestern Shatkhira and Gopalganj on Saturday.

On Saturday afternoon, Modi will hold talks with Hasina at the Prime Minister’s Office, where at least five MoUs are expected to be signed and a number of projects inaugurated virtually. Later, he will meet President Hamid at Bangabhaban presidential palace before leaving for New Delhi in the evening.

Modi’s visit is taking place at a time Bangladesh is commemorating Mujib Borsho, the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 50 years of the country’s war of liberation. The two countries are also celebrating 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties.

Earlier on Thursday, the prime minister expressed his happiness over his visit to the neighbouring nation. “I am happy that my first foreign visit after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic will be to our friendly neighbouring country, with which India shares deep cultural, linguistic and people-to-people ties,” Modi had said.

“My visit will not only be an occasion to convey appreciation for Bangladesh’s remarkable economic and developmental strides under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visionary leadership, but also to commit India’s abiding support for these achievements,” he added.

Modi said during his visit he will also express India’s support and solidarity for Bangladesh’s fight against Covid-19.