The government has taken up massive preparation to welcome Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on a two-day visit on June 6.
He is coming at the invitation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and this will be his first visit to Bangladesh.
He will be accompanied by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarker and Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma.
Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also came to Dhaka in 2011 with all the chief ministers except West Bengal.
During the visit, Modi will receive an honour for former Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for his contribution to the Liberation War.
Both the governments are negotiating for about 30 instruments including agreement, protocol, memorandum on trade, connectivity, people to people contact, education and other areas to be signed during the presence of the two prime ministers.
“We are negotiating about 30 instruments,” said a senior government official.
According to different sources, a memorandum of understanding on Passenger Movement in the Inland Water Routes and on the Coastal Shipping Routes will be signed by the two prime ministers.
“This is an intention showed by the governments on movement of people through river and coastal routes and that’s why it would be signed by the heads of the government,” said another official who is involved in the process.
Both the governments have finalised several agreements and protocols to be signed during the visit. These include renewal of trade agreements, coastal shipping agreement, second line of credit, agreement on bus service between Dhaka and Gawhati and agreement on bus service from Kolkata to Agartala through Dhaka.
Renewal of protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade, protocol on bus service between Dhaka and Gawhati and protocol on bus service from Kolkata to Agartala through Dhaka have also been finalised.
An instrument related to Land Boundary Agreement will also be exchanged during the signing ceremony.
Bangladesh and India signed the land boundary agreement in 1974 and Dhaka ratified it the same year. But, the Indian parliament amended the constitution to ratify the Land Boundary Agreement and its protocol early this month to resolve land boundary related dispute.
During the visit, Modi will visit Savar Mausoleum and Bangabandhu Museum.
The tete-a-tete followed by official talks between the two prime ministers will be held on June 6 and after the meeting, the instruments will be signed.
He will pay a courtesy call on President Abdul Hamid. He will also meet Leader of the Opposition Rawshan Ershad, while BNP Chief Khaldea Zia will meet him during his visit.
Modi will also attend a congregation at the Dhakeshwari Temple.
