Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina expected to visit India next February

NEW DELHI: Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina is expected to visit India next February after her trip here from Dec 18-20 was deferred due to her party engagements in Dhaka and possible weather conditions in Delhi in December third week.

Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar held detailed discussions with Hasina in Dhaka on Saturday about her proposed visit, highly placed sources told ET.

It is understood that the Bangla PM one of India's closest partners will visit Delhi at the earliest possible time period after January. The first month of 2017 will see several visits from Gulf to India including Abu Dabhi crown prince as Chief Guest for the Republic Day.

December is celebrated as 'victory month' in Bangladesh as East Pakistan became a new country following Indo-Pak war in Dec 1971. The ruling Awami League has lined up several programs in Dhaka on the occasion which Hasina will attend including on Dec 17. Besides the Bangladesh government is worried with the current fog conditions in Delhi and anticipated delay in arrival in Delhi on Dec 18. This would have left with Hasina with limited time for talks with Indian PM, Ajmer trip and function to handover awards to kin of slain Indian soldiers in 1971 war between Dec 18-20. Hasina was not keen to compromise on her engagements.

The Bangladesh PM is also worried following mid-air snag while she was on her way to Hungary recently. The flight had to make an emergency landing in Turkmenistan. There is a probe currently underway on this incident. Sources indicated the development had left the Bangla PM worried.