PM Narendra Modi receives the Bangladesh Liberation War Honour on behalf of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at President House in Dhaka (Press Trust of India photo)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the leaders of Bangladesh's leading Leftist political parties, including Leader of the Opposition Raushan Ershad and Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia. During the two-day visit that ends today, he also met the country's top corporate leaders.
Here are the latest developments:
"Continuing outreach. PM@narendramodi meets leaders of Left Parties in Bangladesh," Vikas Swarup, spokesperson of the External Affairs Ministry tweeted.
The Prime Minister met Ms Khaleda Zia after his meeting with Leader of Opposition Raushan Ershad. Ms Ershad, wife of former Bangladesh president Hussain Mohammad Ershad, is a presidium member of the Jatiya Party (Ershad).
But his meeting with Ms Zia was more closely watched - with the opposition leader's long-running calls for fresh elections gaining little traction.
The Prime Minister addressed the Indian community in the evening at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre before leaving for New Delhi.
Earlier, he received Bangladesh's Award of Liberation War Honour on behalf of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee at a ceremony in Dhaka. Calling it an "inspiration for so many people," he said, "This day is a matter of pride for the people of India."
In the morning, PM Modi offered prayers at the famous 12th-Century Dhakeshwari temple in Dhaka, the most revered place for Hindus in Bangladesh. He also visited the Ramakrishna Mission at Gopibagh.
On Saturday, India and Bangladesh ratified the historic Land Boundary Agreement which will simplify their 4,000-km border and clarify the identities of 52,000 people living in the enclaves. The deal was signed in presence of PM Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka.
A string of trade deals accompanied the land deal. He has signed 22 agreements aimed at boosting trade and transport links, which include deals on the movement of goods across borders and rail projects.
The Prime Minister announced a fresh US $2 billion line of credit for Bangladesh. He has promised quick implementation of the earlier line of credit of US $800 million and full disbursement of US $200 million. Six projects undertaken with grant-in-aid from India were also inaugurated.
The Bangladesh media hailed his visit as the "dawn of a new era" and called the signing of the Land Boundary Agreement protocol as a "historic moment" in bilateral ties.
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