New Delhi, June 22, 2024- Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh was accorded a guard of honor at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of the President of India, marking the commencement of her two-day state visit to India. This visit follows an invitation from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is significant as the first bilateral visit by a foreign prime minister since the formation of the new Indian government.

Sheikh Hasina arrived at Rashtrapati Bhavan around 9 am local time on Saturday. She was greeted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Draupadi Murmu, and other high-ranking officials including several government ministers. Prime Minister Modi welcomed her at Raisina Hill, where she received a red carpet reception.

The ceremony included a royal welcome and a guard of honor. Both national anthems of Bangladesh and India were performed, and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inspected the guard after receiving the armed salute. The band played the song 'Anandaloke Mangalaloke Viraj Satyasundar' by Rabindranath Tagore, adding a cultural touch to the occasion.

Following the ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited Rajghat to pay her respects to Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the Indian nation, where she laid a wreath at his mausoleum.

The day’s schedule also included a visit to Hyderabad House, where Prime Minister Hasina and Prime Minister Modi held a private meeting followed by bilateral discussions. During these talks, several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and agreements were expected to be signed to strengthen the relationship between Bangladesh and India. After the signing ceremony, the two leaders were scheduled to make a joint statement.

Prime Minister Hasina was also honored with a luncheon hosted by Prime Minister Modi at Hyderabad House. This event underscored the importance of the visit and the warm ties between the two nations.

In the afternoon, Prime Minister Hasina returned to Rashtrapati Bhavan for a private meeting with President Draupadi Murmu, further emphasizing the high-level engagement between the two countries.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to depart for Dhaka on a special flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines at 6 pm local time, with an expected arrival in Dhaka at 9 pm Bangladesh time.

This visit marks Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s first bilateral visit to India after taking oath for her third consecutive term. She had previously attended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony on June 9. The visit aims to reinforce the strong bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India, focusing on mutual cooperation and development.