Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina in India, meets S Jaishankar, Indian CEOs

NEW DELHI: Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina arrived here on Friday on a state visit with an aim to conclude arrangements across sectors, including defence, food security, port management and Special Economic Zone.

Hasina met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and a group of Indian CEOs ahead of her meeting with PM Narendra Modi on Saturday. "Delighted to call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh this (Friday) evening. Appreciate her guidance on the further development of our special partnership," Jaishankar said after meeting Hasina.

Several MoUs are expected to be concluded during Hasina's meeting with PM Modi. Dhaka is also understood to have sought support for a mechanism to address food security. The Modi-Hasina summit is expected to focus on defence partnership whose potential is yet to be realised, according to persons familiar with the issue. India had earlier offered a $500 million line of credit to Bangladesh for the defence sector but this is yet to be utilised. A joint military exercise is also on the cards, ET has learnt.


ET had reported earlier this month that all branches of the Bangladesh military had registered complaints with the faulty spare parts and other technical challenges associated with defence equipment they imported from China. Among other issues that will be given priority by both sides include cross-border connectivity initiatives, including any Indian investments in Teesta special economic zone, Mongla port management and power trade. Also on the cards is a trade pact.