Bangladesh is strong example of communal harmony: PM Modi
DHAKA: Visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that Bangladesh is a strong example of communal harmony, adding that New Delhi will deeply cooperate with Dhaka "all the time".
He made the remarks while addressing members of the Matua community in Gopalganj district following his visit to the Orakandi temple.
The temple is considered to be the holiest place for more than five crore people of the Matua community, founded by Harichand Thakur, living in Bangladesh and Indian state of West Bengal.
"I'm blessed to come to this holy land of Orakandi. It is because of the blessings of Orakandi Thakur. When I first visited Bangladesh in 2015, I hoped that someday I will be able to come here. My wish has been fulfilled today.
"We are moving forward through the way directed by Harichand Thakur and his son GuruChand Thakur," the Prime Minister said.
"Joy Bangla, Joy Hind, Bharat-Bangladesh moitry chirojibi hok."
Modi also met members of the Thakur family.
Before visiting Orakandi, he paid homage to Bangladesh's Father of the Nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by visiting his mausoleum in Tungipara, also in Gopalganj.
He arrived in Tungipara aboard a helicopter after offering morning prayers at the Jeshoreshwari Kali temple in Satkhira district.
Modi is the first Indian head of state to visit Tungipara.
Earlier in the day India gifted 1.2 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines to Bangladesh. Modi handed over a representational box to his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina as a symbol of India's gift of vaccine doses to Bangladesh. He also handed over a representational key of 109 ambulances to her.
Modi held talks with Hasina over a wide-range of issues of bilateral cooperation and mutual interests. The two leaders discussed the progress achieved in areas like connectivity, energy, trade, health and developmental cooperation following which the two countries signed five MoUs covering a number of areas of bilateral cooperation. Modi held one-on-one talks with Hasina which was followed by delegation-level meeting which continued for over an hour.
"Relationship going from strength to strength! Prime Minister @narendramodi and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina discussed the progress achieved in areas of health, trade, connectivity, energy, developmental cooperation and many more, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted after the talks. The two sides signed five Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) covering areas such as connectivity, commerce, information technology and sports. The two leaders also jointly opened some projects virtually. (Agencies)
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