PM Modi said this while welcoming Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina on her state visit to India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina who arrived in India on a two-day state visit on June 21, held talks on issues of mutual interests on Saturday in New Delhi.

Welcoming her visit to India, Prime Minister Modi wrote on his social media handle: “Glad to have welcomed PM Sheikh Hasina to Delhi today. Over the year, we have met about ten times but this visit is special because she is our first state guest after our Government returned to power for the third term.”

Addressing the press meet with his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister Modi later said Bangladesh is situated at the confluence of India’s Neighbourhood First Policy, Act East Policy, Vision Sagar, and Indo-Pacific Vision.
He said that in the last year, the two nations have together completed many important projects of public welfare.

He added that the world’s longest river cruise on the Ganga between India and Bangladesh has been successfully completed, along with the first cross-border friendship pipeline. 
Prime Minister Modi said India will start an e-medical visa facility for people in Bangladesh for medical treatment. He added that a decision has also been taken to open a new Assistant High Commission in Rangpur.

He highlighted that both countries have kept connectivity, commerce, and collaboration in focus. and they will now focus on digital and energy connectivity even more, which will speed up the economies of both countries.

Prime Minister Modi mentioned that both sides are ready to initiate talks on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to take their economic ties to new heights.

He also said they have decided to initiate technical-level talks on the renewal of the 1996 Ganga Water Treaty. PM Modi said that for the conservation and management of the Teesta River in Bangladesh, a technical team will visit Bangladesh soon.

In her press statement, the Bangladesh Prime Minister described India as a trusted friend and regional partner.

She also invited Prime Minister Modi to visit Bangladesh to further strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries. 

Earlier, India and Bangladesh exchanged agreements and renewed multiple Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in different fields.

These agreements include those in the areas of defence, digital and green partnerships, maritime cooperation, the blue economy, health and medicine, space collaboration, railway connectivity, oceanography, disaster management and fisheries.

Earlier on Saturday, a ceremonial reception was accorded to Sheikh Hasina at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi exchanged greetings with his Bangladeshi counterpart. Both the prime ministers met Ministers and delegates from each other’s countries on the occasion.

Later, Sheikh Hasina paid homage to the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, at Rajghat in the national capital.