Modi plans to meet Bangladesh PM in May

Published: May 01, 2018 11:19:23 | Updated: May 01, 2018 17:50:13

NEW DELHI: After a successful summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Wuhan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is now set to meet leaders of two other neighbours critical to India's foreign policy, Nepal and Bangladesh, in May, according to a report by economictimes.indiatimes.com.

Modi will visit Nepal on May 11, which would help maintain the momentum in bilateral ties after his counterpart K P Oli's India trip early in April when the two leaders focused on smoother connectivity links between India and Nepal, officials said.

Plans are also afoot to arrange a visit by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Vishwa Bharti in Shantiniketan in May to jointly inaugurate a Bangladesh Bhawan with Modi, people familiar with the development told ET.

The bhawan has been built with support from the Hasina government. Bangladesh is headed for Parliamentary elections later this year and New Delhi, which has implemented several development-oriented projects in the neighbouring country, desires to strengthen secular forces in Dhaka.

The Hasina regime has been a steadfast supporter in Delhi’s regional counter-terror initiatives. Modi and Hasina last met on April 19 in London on the side lines of the Commonwealth Summit.

Hasina’s proposed meeting with Modi in Shantiniketan could also act as a feel-good factor in facilitating proposed Teesta pact in future. West Bengal government has been intransigent over sharing of Teesta river waters with Bangladesh, thereby delaying the proposed bilateral pact.