AGARTALA / DHAKA, June 6 (TIWN): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived here on Saturday on a two-day "historic" visit to Bangladesh. Modi, who arrived at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in a special Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft, Rajdoot, was received, in a break from protocol, by his Bangladeshi counterpart, Sheikh Hasina. He was accorded a ceremonial welcome, after which he inspectd a guard of honour.Modi is scheduled to hold talks with Sheikh Hasina and ink several agreements, especially in the field of connectivity and trade.West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is a part of the Indian prime minister's delegation, had reached Dhaka on Friday.With the land swap agreement as the centerpiece, Prime Minister Narendra Modi left on Saturday on a two-day "historic" visit to Bangladesh where he will hold talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina and ink several agreements, especially in the field of connectivity and trade.Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received her Indian counterpart at the VVIP tarmac of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 10:15am.This visit, first to Bangladesh by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reflects the importance attached by India to the bilateral relationship. Mamata Banerjee is the only Chief Minister of an Indian state West Bengal will be accompanying the Prime Minister during his visit to Bangladesh. Mamata Banerjee, Chief minister of West Bengal, arrived in Dhaka on an Air Indian flight along with her six entourages on Friday night.


On arrival at about 8:30pm, she stayed in the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and left for Hotel Radisson, said immigration police officer-in-charge senior police superintendent Nazrul Islam.

State minister for foreign affairs Shahriar Alam received Mamata Banerjee at the airport.

The visit will have special focus on connectivity, security and energy issues apart from signing of a number of instruments and deals, aiming to take the ties between the two neighbouring countries to a newer height.The instrument of ratification on Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) will be exchanged in presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her Indian counterpart and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after  talks between the two countries.
Bangladesh will mainly focus on connectivity issues while India would likely  highlight security aspects. The Indian Premier will lead a 12-member official delegation, including High Commissioner in Dhaka Pankaj Saran. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and External Affairs Secretary S Jaishankar are the other high officials to be part of the delegation.His entourage will also include 21 members including doctors and personal staff.

Dhaka will mainly focus on connectivity issues during talks with Modi and work is on to build South Asia as an integrated region.The visit is expected to further expand the cordial and cooperative relationship between the two countries and strengthen the ties of friendship and trust between the two peoples.During his visit a number of deals in the areas of connectivity, trade, security and cultural cooperation would be inked between Bangladesh and India.

The deals and MoUs are bilateral trade agreement, inland water protocol, coastal shipping deal, bilateral cooperation deal between BSTI and BIS, MoU on Human Trafficking, MoU on Fake Currency Notes, MoU between Coast Guards of Bangladesh and India and exchange of document on Land Boundary Agreement. During the visit regional connectivity and security would be given the top priority."The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he would implement the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA). He has kept his word. And it is our great achievement," Mahmood told reporters.
He added Instrument of Ratification on Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) would be exchanged in presence of two Prime Ministers after their official talks to be held at Prime Minister's office on Saturday afternoon.Replying to a query whether sharing of Teesta waters agreement would be signed the Foreign Minister said he "no" and added that the issue was being discussed behind the scene."The issue would not come up in discussion during the Indian Prime Minister's visit since we are working on it.  "Everything doesn't come overnight. It's a continuous process. Have patience for getting a concrete outcome in this regard," he said.

Bangladesh and India will sign a number of important agreements that includes bilateral trade deal, Inland Water Protocol, Maritime Water Connectivity and Cooperation on standardization of products during Modi's visit to Bangladesh."Besides separate Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) on prevention of human trafficking and counterfeit notes and security issue would also be signed between the maritime security forces and other concerned institutions of both the countries.
Bangladesh and India have solved many pending issues as bilateral relations between the two countries have reached to a newer height ...so the two countries will be able to definitely solve the rest of the pending issues soon. During 36 hours whirlwind  visit, the Indian Premier will place wreaths at the National Memorial at Savar and Bangabandhu Museum in the city's Dhanmondi area.He will pay a courtesy call on President Mohammad Abdul Hamid when Modi will receive "Bangladesh Liberation War Honour" on behalf of Indian former Prime
Minister Atal Bihari Bajpayee from the President.

During the visit, Kolkata-Agartala and Dhaka-Shilong-Gwahati bus services would be inaugurated. Besides, Khulna-Mongla railway line, Kulaura-Shahbajpur rail connection, Robindra Bhaban in Shilaidah Kuthibari, Moitree Bhaban at Sarda Police Academy, construction works of a bridge on Feni river, Laboratory of Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institutions and a Border Haat would be inaugurated during the tour, Apart from this,  the Indian Prime Minister will address a distinguished gathering at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) prior to his departure for India on Sunday evening. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, Foreign Secretary Md. Shahidul Haque and Syed Muazzem Ali, among others, joined the briefing.

Indian Premier will go to Dhaka Ramkrishna Mission at Gopi Bag and He will also go to Dhakeswari Temple.
Ahead of Indian Premier visit to Dhaka a  fire broke out at Barisal office of Bangladesh Legal Aid Services Trust hous on the district judge’s court premises on Friday.
Fire service officials and BLAST authority said the fire broke out from an electric short circuit around 12:30pm and it soon engulfed the entire office.
It was the second incident of fire on Barisal district judge’s court premises in past three months.
On information, three firefighting units rushed to the spot and doused the blaze after 40 minutes of frantic efforts, said Alauddin Mia, station officer of Barisal Fire Service.
The fire destroyed over 1500 documents of cases, four computers and furniture of the office.
Another  fire broke out at Anarkali Super Market opposite to Mouchak in the capital on Friday night.
 The fire broke out at about 9:50pm. The reason behind the incident could not be confirmed immediately. Seven units of fire service are working to douse the flame, said Ali.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia would meet Indian Prime Minister Narandra Modi who arrives here on Saturday morning on his maiden visit.
 Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar confirmed it while briefing media on  Friday on Modi’s visit. The meeting would be held on Sunday.
‘He will then receive a number of important Bangladeshi leaders, political and commercial, this would include leader of opposition Rushan Ershad, former prime minister of Bangladesh Khaleda Zia and presidents of leading chambers and leaders of left parties,’ he said.