PM Modi In Dhaka For Bangladesh's 50th Year Of Liberation

The visit comes amid the run-up to the West Bengal and Assam Assembly polls. Both states will keenly follow the developments over the next two days.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has flagged off his first foreign tour since India declared the Covid-19 lockdown a year ago. He will be in Bangladesh today and tomorrow to attend the celebration of that country's 50th year of liberation from Pakistan and the centenary year of its founder Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, Premier Sheikh Hasina's father. The two countries are also celebrating 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties. "I am happy that my first foreign visit after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic will be to our friendly neighbouring country, with which India shares deep cultural, linguistic and people-to-people ties," read his departure statement, released yesterday. "My visit will not only be an occasion to convey appreciation for Bangladesh's remarkable economic and developmental strides under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visionary leadership, but also to commit India's abiding support for these achievements," he said in the statement. He had also tweeted yesterday saying that Bangladesh is an important pillar of India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy. Known as East Pakistan till 1971, Bangladesh was formed after India and Pakistan fought a war.