More than 5 MoUs likely to be signed during Modi’s visit: Momen
“The number of MoUs could be more or less … but five-plus (instruments are likely to be signed),” said Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen
Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen today said more than five Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) are likely to be signed between Bangladesh and India during the Indian premier Narendra Modi's visit here starting from tomorrow.
"The number of MoUs could be more or less … but five-plus (instruments are likely to be signed)," he told reporters after attending a programme in the capital today.
Dhaka and New Delhi are still in negotiation over the signing of numbers of MoUs that are likely to be signed after the bilateral meeting between Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Modi to be held on Saturday.
The foreign minister said Modi's visit is mainly to join the celebrations of Bangladesh's 50 years independence anniversary and pay respect to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
However, Momen said, as top leaders of the two countries would sit for bilateral talks all major issues are likely to be discussed during the meeting.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive here on Friday morning on a two-day state visit to attend the celebration programme of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence.
Replying to a question Momen said most of the people of Bangladesh welcome the visit of Modi and they are happy about the visit.
Saying that very few people might be against the visit he said that would affect the visit in 'no way '.
"We believe in democracy … Bangladesh is a democratic country where freedom of speech is guaranteed," he said.
Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Bhutanese Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering have already attended the 10-day special program in person that began on March 17.
Many global leaders, including Queen Elizabeth II, Pope Francis, Chinese President Xi Jinping, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sent video messages, marking the celebrations where US ambassador to Bangladesh Earl Miller will read out a letter of President Joe Biden virtually tomorrow marking the 50th Intendance day.
On his arrival at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in Dhaka tomorrow morning, Indian premier Narendra Modi will be received by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
After the formalities at the airport, Modi is scheduled to go straight to the National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar to pay rich tributes to the heroic martyrs of the Liberation War of Bangladesh by placing a wreath.
Shortly afterwards, he will visit the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 to pay homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
In the afternoon, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen will call on the Indian premier at Hotel Sonargaon.
Later, the Indian Prime Minister will join the celebration program marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's Independence Day as a guest of honour at the National Parade Square.
President Md. Abdul Hamid will be present at the celebration as the chief guest while Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will preside.
In the evening, Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the 'Bangabandhu-Bapu Museum' jointly with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center. He will attend a state banquet arranged in his honour by his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina.
On the morning of the second day of his visit on Saturday, Narendra Modi will visit the Mausoleum of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Tungipara in Gopalganj to pay homage to Bangabandhu.
He is scheduled to visit the Orakandi temple in Kashiani Upazila of Gopalganj and the Jessoreswari Devi Temple at Ishwaripur under Shyamnagar in Satkhira district.
In the afternoon, he will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Prime Minister's Office. At the same time, in the presence of the prime ministers of the two countries, various MoUs will be inked and a number of projects inaugurated virtually.
Later, the Indian premier will meet President Md. Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban.
Narendra Modi will leave Dhaka for New Delhi in the evening on March 27.
