This will be PM Modi's first visit to a foreign country since the COVID-19 outbtbreak

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Bangladesh on a two-day visit on March 26 and 27 to participate in celebrations to mark 50 years of the country's liberation.

Bangladesh is also celebrating this year as Mujib Borsho, the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibir Rahman. What makes 2021 even more special is that it marks 50 years of diplomatic ties between India and Bangladesh.

Announcing the visit on Tuesday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) pointed out that this will be Prime Minister Modi's first visit to a foreign country since the COVID-19 pandemic's outbreak.

This reflected the priority that India attaches to Bangladesh, the MEA said in a press release.

During the visit, which is in connection with the commemoration of the three epochal events, the Indian Prime Minister will attend the National Day programme of Bangladesh on March 26 as the guest of honour.

According to the MEA, the programme of the Prime Minister, apart from holding bilateral consultations with Prime Minister Hasina, also includes a call on the President of Bangladesh Md. Abdul Hamid.

Foreign Minister of Bangladesh A.K. Abdul Momen will call on Prime Minister Modi during the visit.

The Indian Prime Minister had accepted an invitation to visit the country during last year's virtual summit with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He had last visited Bangladesh in 2015.

The visit comes at a time when India and Bangladesh ties are seeing close cooperation in multiple sectors, including connectivity, energy, and the fight against COVID-19.

Bangladesh was among the first countries to receive Made-in-India COVID-19 vaccines in January this year and is the largest recipient of the vaccines as grant.
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