MODI, HASINA SCRIPT GOLDEN AGE OF INDIA-BANGLA MAITRI
The two-day visit of PM Modi wasn’t just about goodwill gestures, bonhomie and spectacle, but about the shared future of the two countries, intertwined by deep-seated cultural and historical ties.
From commerce, connectivity and cultural alchemy to frontier areas such as start-ups, artificial intelligence and nuclear power, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic visit to Bangladesh for “triple celebrations” has ushered in a new “sonali adhyay” (golden chapter) in multi-faceted strategic partnership between the two South Asian neighbours.
PM Modi’s second visit to Dhaka—he visited Bangladesh after a hiatus of six years—is steeped in an atmosphere of national rejoicing as India and Bangladesh jointly celebrate “Mujib Borsho”—the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, 50 years of Bangladesh’s war of liberation and 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties. Mutual goodwill and warmth of sentiments flowed spontaneously as
Dhaka pulled out all stops to welcome the Indian leader. In a special gesture, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, accompanied by her senior ministers, personally received PM Modi at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Friday, 26 March. In diplomacy, florid words are often used by leaders as feel-good messaging, but sentiments expressed by PM Modi and Sheikh Hasina on Bangladesh National Day came straight from the heart.
Sporting a “Mujib Jacket” as a tribute to Bangladesh’s beloved Father of the Nation, “Bangabandhu”, PM Modi’s voice turned emotional as he described his presence in Dhaka on this historic occasion as “one of the most memorable days of my life” and recalled that how as a young man in his early twenties, “doing satyagraha for independence of Bangladesh” was one of the finest moments of his life. Sheikh Hasina also struck an emotive tone, saying, “In our independence war, we always remember the contribution of India.”
SHARED FUTURE
The two-day visit of PM Modi that ended on the evening of Saturday, 27 March, wasn’t just about goodwill gestures, bonhomie and spectacle, but about the shared future of the two countries, intertwined by deep-seated cultural and historical ties. On Day 1 of his visit, PM Modi set the tone by announcing an India-bangladesh partnership in start-ups. Marking 50 years of establishment of diplomatic ties, PM Modi invited 50 entrepreneurs from Bangladesh to visit India to join the country’s start-up and innovation ecosystem and meet India’s venture capitalists. He also announced 1,000 Swarna Jayanti scholarships for the youths of Bangladesh, which is given to young scientists in fields of biology, chemistry, environmental science, engineering, mathematics, medicine and physics. These two pioneering initiatives will frame the future trajectory of the India-bangladesh partnership which will revolve increasingly around youth, innovation, technology and entrepreneurship.
Taking the agenda of the December 2020 digital summit forward, the wideranging talks between PM Modi and Sheikh Hasina culminated in a future-looking