Bangladesh Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud will be in India from February 7-9, 2024, on what is his first bilateral visit abroad after swearing in of the new government in Bangladesh.
He is coming to India at the invitation of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said as it announced the visit on Tuesday (February 6, 2024).
“The visit reflects the high importance and priority both countries attach to their bilateral relationship,” the MEA noted.
During the visit, EAM Jaishankar and Foreign Minister Mahmud will hold talks, in which both leaders will review the progress in wide-ranging areas of bilateral relations and chart out the agenda for future engagement. They will also exchange views on sub-regional, regional and multilateral issues of common interest, the MEA said.
The two ministers had earlier met in Kampala, Uganda on January 20, 2024, on the sidelines of the 19th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit.
Strong Bond of Cooperation & Understanding
Foreign Minister Mahmud’s visit to New Delhi is a reflection of the robust bilateral relationship between India and Bangladesh which is characterized by a strong bond of cooperation and mutual understanding.
Over the years, the two countries have collaborated on various fronts, such as connectivity, trade, energy, border security, and water sharing, to foster regional stability and promote shared prosperity.
This partnership was on display when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina jointly inaugurated three India-assisted development projects on November 1, 2023, via video conferencing. The three projects were Akhaura – Agartala Cross-Border Rail Link; Khulna – Mongla Port Rail Line; and Unit – II of the Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant.
Unit I of the Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant had been unveiled jointly by both the Prime Ministers in September 2022.
Connectivity and trade linkages figured prominently during discussions between Prime Minister Modi and PM Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi on September 8, 2023, ahead of the G20 Summit in New Delhi.
Meanwhile, signalling their intent to forge a deeper economic engagement, India and Bangladesh have commenced discussions on the ground work for the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two sides.
The matter was taken up at the 15th Meeting of the Joint Working Group on Trade (JWG) between India and Bangladesh which was held in Dhaka on September 26-27, 2023. (INN)