Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina at Dhaka airport on Saturday
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Bangaldesh's capital Dhaka a short while ago for a two-day visit to the neighbouring country during which he will hold talks with PM Sheikh Hasina and ink several agreements, especially in the field of connectivity and trade.
PM Hasina received Mr Modi at the airport where he was ceremonial welcome.
"Leaving for Bangladesh. This visit is going to strengthen the bond between our Nations, benefitting people of our countries and our region," the Prime Minister tweeted this morning before leaving for Dhaka. Dhaka is decked up with big hoardings carrying photographs of PM Modi as the city prepares to welcome him. There are also life-size cutouts of PM Modi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee - who is accompanying PM Modi - and Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Signing of the land boundary agreement (LBA) between the two countries would be a major highlight of the visit, hoardings carrying the photographs of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Bangladesh's founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman inking an agreement in 1974 to settle the vexed border issue have also been put up in various key areas of the city.
Earlier this month, Parliament passed a historic constitution amendment bill seeking to settle India's 41-year-old border issue with Bangladesh. The bill will operationalise the India-Bangladesh Land Boundary agreement that provides for exchange of 161 enclaves between the two countries.
The two sides will sign a pact to implement the historic agreement.
Ahead of his visit, PM Modi said that he was looking forward to his visit with a great sense of "enthusiasm and delight" as the two sides readied a host of pacts to be signed, including one on enhancing connectivity.
Lauding the role of Prime Minister Hasina for playing an "important role" for making the bilateral ties "strong", PM Modi said: "I am certain my visit will be beneficial for the people of both our nations and in the larger good of the South Asian neighbourhood."
Referring to the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA), PM Modi said it marked a "watershed moment" in India's ties with Bangladesh.
The Prime Minister will have a tight schedule in Dhaka besides holding detailed talks with PM Hasina, he will attend several programmes and pay a visit to the Memorial of the 1971 liberation war.
Besides signing pacts to improve connectivity between the two countries, there will be efforts by both the sides to enhance trade. There will be efforts to spur Indian investment in Bangladesh and a Memorandum of Understanding is likely to be signed to facilitate setting up of Special Economic Zones by Indian companies in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is an important trading partner for India, with two-way trade in 2012-2013 standing at US $5.34 billion and India's exports to Bangladesh accounting for US $4.776 billion besides imports of US $0.564 million.
The current volume of bilateral ties between India and Bangladesh are on an upswing ever since the Hasina government came to power in January, 2009 and the Indian side will make every effort to strengthen the relationship considering its strategic interests.
PM Modi and Sheikh Hasina will flag-off the bus service between Kolkata and Agartala via Dhaka and the Dhaka-Shillong-Guwahati bus service.
The two countries are keen to strengthen railway connectivity, particularly to revive railway links which were in existence prior to 1965.
The two countries are also set to sign a coastal shipping agreement to facilitate sailing of small vessels from India to various ports in Bangladesh which now go through Singapore.
India will also push for involvement of Indian companies in setting up of ports in that country.
The issue of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicle Agreement is also likely to figure in the talks PM Modi will have with Ms Hasina.
Bangladesh and India share a 4,096-km-long border, most of which is porous, and both the countries are likely to try and find ways to enhance security cooperation, particularly to further contain northeast insurgent groups.
India has already announced that the long-pending Teesta water-sharing pact with Bangladesh will not be signed during the visit.