Sushma Swaraj calls on Bangladesh PM Hasina

New Delhi [India], Apr. 7 (ANI): External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday met Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi. Earlier, Prime Minister Hasina arrived in New Delhi to kickstart her four-day state visit to the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi received his Bangladeshi counterpart at the Technical area of Palam Airport. "Delighted to welcome H.E. Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, on her State Visit to India. PM Sheikh Hasina and I are determined to take the relationship between our nations to a new level," Prime Minister tweeted. 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 the Dhaka Tribune, India and Bangladesh may sign around 33 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's as a special guest during her stay. (ANI)