Indian external affairs minister, Sushma Swaraj, who will be arriving in Dhaka on Sunday will inaugurate 15 development projects funded by the Indian government.The visit, dubbed the stock-taking of bilateral relations between the two neighbours, will be Sushma’s second visit to Bangladesh since 2O14 when she became the external affairs minister.
During the visit, Sushma Swaraj will lead the Indian delegation to Bangladesh and India Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) meeting begins at 4.30 pm Sunday at State Guest House Padma.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali will lead Bangladesh delegation to the meeting, a foreign ministry spokesperson told
The Indian High Commission in Dhaka said the visit is expected “to be an opportunity for review of the excellent bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh and further strengthening of these ties.”
She is scheduled to reach Dhaka at around 2 pm at a special aircraft. Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, who invited her, was expected to receive her at the Bangabandhu Air Base.
The two ministers will co-chair the annual stock-taking meeting under the title India-Bangladesh Joint Consultative Commission at Hotel Sonargoan where she will stay during her visit.
This is for the fourth time the two sides are meeting to discuss a whole range of bilateral engagements.
The Indian External Affairs Minister will meet BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Sunday night after her meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
She will interact with the representatives of leading Bangladeshi think tanks, chambers of commerce and industry and cultural organisations.
On Monday morning, she will inaugurate the 15 development projects funded by India from the chancery building.
According to the project papers, those projects worth Tk720 million, have been chosen, keeping in mind geographical spread, socio-economic benefits and priorities of the government of Bangladesh.
The projects cover sectors such as education, healthcare, IT, water supply and social welfare.
11 water treatment plants would be built in southern Bhandia Upazilla under Pirojour district that will provide desalinated potable drinking water to 150,000 citizens.
Some 36 community clinics will also be built.
Those projects also include reconstruction of Ramna Kali Temple which was destroyed by the invading Pakistani forces in 1971.
The project includes construction of the main temple, construction of a 5-storied guest house, setting up a deep tube well in the temple premises and the construction of the main entry gate of the temple.
Memorabilia of 1971 war of liberation will be on display at the Hotel Sonagoan ballroom during her stay.
According to several senior BNP leaders, the two will meet at 8 pm at Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka. Swaraj is to stay at the same hotel during her two-day trip to Bangladesh.
The programme has been confirmed by the Bangladesh foreign ministry. A seven-member BNP delegation led by Khaleda Zia will meet Swaraj, BNP leaders said.
The other members of the delegation will be BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP Standing Committee members Khandker Mosharraf Hossain, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, and BNP Advisory Council members Riaz Rahman and Sabihuddin Ahmed. – Agencies
