PM Modi receives Bangladesh PM Hasina in New Delhi

New Delhi [India], Apr. 7 (ANI): Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today landed in New Delhi to kickstart her four-day visit to the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi received his counterpart at the Palam Technical Airport. Officials from Prime Minister Hasina's entourage took selfies with Prime Minister Modi. The two leaders are expected to hold official talks on a range of issues including an inter-governmental agreement on civil nuclear energy. According to Dhaka Tribune, India and Bangladesh may sign around 35 deals and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on trade and commerce, economy and connectivity, and on defence related issues. The MoUs will include prevention of human trafficking, blue economy and maritime cooperation in the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean, use of Chittagong and Mongla seaports, Indian economic zone, and joint research on oceanography of the Bay of Bengal. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Joint Secretary Sripriya Ranganathan on Thursday said that India was expecting to sign over 20 agreements with Bangladesh during this visit. The Bangladesh Government on Monday approved the draft of a proposal to establish a new passenger bus service between Dhaka in Bangladesh and Kolkata in India via Khulna. The draft of the proposal was approved in a weekly Cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Hasina. The visit will be aimed at expanding bilateral trade, boosting investment, connectivity and sub-regional assistance. India is likely to offer USD 500 million Line of Credit to Bangladesh for defence exports from the country during the visit. It is unlikely that the Teesta water sharing agreement would be signed. During her stay in New Delhi, Prime Minister Hasina will call on President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice President Mohammed Hamid Ansari. The Bangladesh Prime Minister will be staying at the President House as a special guest during her stay. (ANI)