Foreign Secretary Harshvardhan Shringla arrives in Dhaka following Maitri Diwas Celebrations

Foreign Secretary’s Dhaka visit comes ahead of President Ram Nath Kovind’s state visit to Bangladesh for Swarnim Vijay Diwas Celebrations on the 16th of December

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday morning for a two-day visit ahead of President Ramnath Kovind’s state visit to Bangladesh from 15-17 December. This will be the first visit by the 14th President of India to Bangladesh.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen received his Indian counterpart Shringla upon his arrival by a special aircraft. Apart from his meeting with Foreign Minister Dr. A.K Abdul Momen, Shringla will also call on Road Transport and Bridges Minister and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Tuesday.

The Foreign Secretary is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday. India’s relationship with Bangladesh is one of the strongest pillars of its “Neighbourhood First Policy”, said the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. In this special year, Bangladesh and India are jointly commemorating 50 years of the establishment of their diplomatic ties.

Foreign Secretary Shringla’s visit to Bangladesh assumes special significance also because he is the former high commissioner to Bangladesh and has spent a few years working with his Bangladeshi counterparts. His visit to Bangladesh comes a day after the Maitri Diwas celebrations, and will provide an opportunity to review the wide-ranging cooperation between the two countries based on strong people-to-people links and a close socio-cultural bond.

Shringla’s trip will focus on the preparation of President Ramnath Kovind’s itinerary in Dhaka besides discussions on a host of development and cross-border projects, including health cooperation as well as regional developments, sources mentioned.