With Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's arrival in the nation's capital on Saturday, the renowned guests for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony have begun to arrive.
Muktesh Pardeshi, Secretary (CPV & OIA), met Prime Minister Hasina at the airport.
Rashtrapati Bhavan announced on Friday that Prime Minister Modi will take the oath of office on June 9 for a third term in office. On the same day, he will be sworn in alongside members of his council of ministers.
"The first honored visitor arrives in New Delhi for the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers' swearing-in event. When PM Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh arrived in New Delhi, Secy (CPV & OIA) @mukteshpardeshi welcomed her with open arms. Our longstanding and enduring friendships will be further strengthened by this visit from one of our most important partners, according to a post on X by Randhir Jaiswal, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs.
Sheikh Hasina departed Dhaka early in the day to go to PM Modi's Sunday swearing-in event.
"Due to the change in the oath-taking ceremony dates, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will leave Dhaka for Delhi at 11 am on Saturday, June 8 and will return home at noon on June 10 after attending the swearing-in ceremony of PM Narendra Modi," Bangladesh PM's Speech Writer, M Nazrul Islam, stated on Friday.
“PM Modi extended an invitation to his counterpart from Bangladesh on Wednesday to join him at his Sunday swearing-in ceremony. The offer was accepted by Sheikh Hasina.”
PM Hasina's visit is in response to an invitation from PM Modi, according to a post on X by Shaban Mahmood, the Press Minister of the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi.
India and Bangladesh have developed a complex relationship over time, characterized by similarities in their histories, cultures, and physical locations.
India's 'Neighbourhood First' strategy is evident in the fact that a number of state heads and leaders from the Indian Ocean and neighboring regions were invited as distinguished guests to PM Modi's swearing-in event.
In a press release, the MEA on Saturday stated, "President of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe; President of Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu; Vice-President of Seychelles, Ahmed Afif; Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina; Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth; Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'; and Prime Minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay, have accepted the invitation to attend."
"The visit of the leaders to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his third consecutive term is in keeping with the highest priority accorded by India to its 'Neighbourhood First' policy and 'SAGAR' vision," the MEA emphasised, underlining the significance of the event.
The MEA further stated that the leaders will attend a banquet at Rashtrapati Bhavan later that evening, hosted by President Droupadi Murmu, in addition to taking part in the swearing-in event.
India's continued efforts to interact with nations in the area are reflected in PM Modi's invitation to leaders of neighboring countries. He brought together SAARC leaders in 2014, and in 2019 he extended an invitation to BIMSTEC nations.
