Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a joint press briefing with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday, announced that India will introduce an e-medical visa facility to aid Bangladeshi citizens seeking medical treatment in India. He also stated that both nations have agreed to establish a new Assistant High Commission in Rangpur to serve the people of the North West region of Bangladesh.
PM Modi extended his best wishes to the cricket teams of both India and Bangladesh for their World Cup match scheduled for the evening. He emphasized the importance of the bilateral relationship, noting, "Bangladesh is India's largest development partner, and we give utmost priority to our relations with Bangladesh."
The announcement followed a bilateral discussion between Modi and Hasina at Hyderabad House in Delhi, covering a broad range of topics. Earlier in the day, Sheikh Hasina received a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan before meeting with PM Modi.
According to sources from PTI, the discussions between the two leaders aimed to elevate bilateral ties to new heights. Upon her arrival in New Delhi on Friday, PM Hasina met with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to discuss various bilateral issues. Jaishankar shared on X, "I am delighted to call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh this evening. Her state visit to India underlines our close and abiding ties. I appreciate her guidance on the further development of our special partnership."
India and Bangladesh have seen a strengthening strategic relationship in recent years. Under India's "Neighborhood First" policy, Bangladesh remains a key ally, with cooperation spanning multiple areas, including security, trade, energy, connectivity, science and technology, and defense.
Notable achievements in connectivity include the inauguration of the Maitri Setu bridge over the Feni River in Tripura by Prime Minister Modi, as well as the launch of the Chilahati-Haldibari rail link.