Breaking protocol, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasin welcomed her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on Saturday as he arrived at the Dhaka airport on a two-day visit to the country.
Following the warm welcome, PM Modi took to Twitter to thank Sheikh Hasina for the same:
Protocol broken to welcome a friend…PM Hasina welcomes PM @narendramodi to Dhaka & a historic visit begins. pic.twitter.com/VxRXsd2zgX
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 6, 2015
Greeting Bangladesh via Twitter, PM Modi tweeted in Bangla and English: “Hello Bangladesh. I bring with me the affection & goodwill of the people of India.”
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup also shared a picture of ceremonial reception, in which both the countries’ national anthem played.
Two neighbours. Two national anthems. One author. Amar Sonar Bangla and Jana Gana Mana play at ceremonial reception pic.twitter.com/IpWCEW9tNm
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) June 6, 2015
Prime Minister Modi, Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be flagging off the Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala and the Dhaka-Shillong-Guwahati bus services.
In the evening today, the Prime Minister will attend a state banquet-cum-cultural programme, which will be organised by his Bangladeshi counterpart in his honour.
PM Modi will also meet Bangladesh’s President Abdul Hamid at the Bangabhawan, where he will receive the Award of Liberation War Honour on behalf of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.