DHAKA, 1 February, 2021 (TON): 27 March, 2021 is the expected for the Bangladesh Prime Miniter Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi in Dhaka to join the celebrations of 50 years of independence.

The Foreign Secretary, Masud Bin Momen, said on Sunday that the Indian PM may arrive In Dhaka on 26 March, 2021.

However, the itinerary of his visit is still being worked out.

As per the plan, an official banquet will be held in his honor after the event of the celebrations, told the foreign Secretary, Masud on returning from India following a four-day tour.

“In that case, a bilateral meeting can be held the next day. Or he (Modi) can travel outside Dhaka,” the secretary said.

Modi may visit Gopalganj’s Tungipara to pay respects to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at his grave.

The Indian premier was scheduled to join the celebrations of Bangabandhu’s birth centenary but the programs were finally held mostly online.

Besides his Indian counterpart Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Masud said he met Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who may visit Dhaka by the end of February.

The visit will not only focus on the celebrations but the projects as well.

The ‘Independence Road’ from Mujibnagar to West Bengal and Feni Bridge is likely to be launched along with the inauguration of a digital exhibition on Mahatma Gandhi and Bangabandhu.

Officials are also discussing five to six Memorandums of Understanding, including one on disaster management.

Bangladesh has challenges like balancing trade deficit and resolving water-sharing discords of Farakka and Teesta Barrages while India has challenges like transit to North Eastern Region (NER) through Bangladesh from the Indian mainland, establishing security at those regions.

The ties between the two countries are of utmost importance for both, for to maintain pleasant and friendly relations in future, both the countries have also certain challenges and opportunities to resolve the other major issues.