PM Narendra Modi offers prayers at Sree Sree Dhakeshwari National Temple in Dhaka, Bangladesh (Press Trust of India photo)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered prayers at the 12th-century Dhakeshwari temple in Dhaka this morning on the second and concluding day of his Bangladesh visit. He then headed to the Ramkrishna Mission nearby and was greeted by the monks at the mission.
"An early morning temple visit. PM @narendramodi worships at the Sree Sree Dhakeshwari Temple in Dhaka," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted.
The Prime Minister spent around 15 minutes at the temple which was closed for nearly an hour for the public in the morning. The PM was given a replica of Goddess Dhakeshwari and a shawl besides other memorabilia. The 800-year-old Sri temple in Lalbagh is state-owned, giving it the distinction of being Bangladesh's "national temple".
The Prime Minister then visited the Ramkrishna Mission at Gopibagh where he posed for pictures with saffron-robed monks of the Ramakrishna order.
"Last month in Kolkata. This month in Dhaka. PM visits Ramakrishna Mission in Bangladesh," Mr Swarup tweeted.
The Dhaka Ramakrishna Mission Math is a branch of the Belur Math, which PM Modi visited last month when he was in Kolkata.
The Prime Minister then inaugurated the newly-constructed Indian High Commission's Chancery at Baridhara.
He will then address the Indian community at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the evening before leaving for New Delhi.