Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived in the capital Dhaka on Thursday evening on a three-day trip, which both the neighbours view as a visit to strengthen relations between the two countries.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam and Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pankaj Saran received Mamata at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on her arrival by an Air India flight.
Later, she was taken to Sonargaon Hotel in the city where she will be staying.
“This is a very emotional moment for me…some journeys are more emotional. This is very special,” she tweeted hours before her departure from India narrating beauty of Bangla through a lyric of a Bangla song.
Mamata mentioned that she last visited Bangladesh 17 years ago and this is her first visit after the new government came to power in the West Bengal in May 2011.
“I’m looking forward to meeting (Prime Minister) Sheikh Hasina and the people of Bangladesh. India and Bangladesh share a special friendship and a special bond,” she said.
The visit raised hopes in Bangladesh that it will create a ‘supportive environment’ for settling pending issues with New Delhi apart from deepening soul-ties with Kolkata.
“We hope the visit will deepen Bangladesh’s soul-ties with the West Bengal. We also expect it’ll create supportive environment in settling unresolved issues between Dhaka and Delhi,” said Shahriar Alam.
The West Bengal chief minister has been visiting Bangladesh at the invitation of Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali to join the "Shaheed Dibash" and "International Mother Language Day" programmes on February 21 as a guest of honour.
During her visit, Mamata would pay homage to the Language Martyrs at the Central Shaheed Minar at the first hour of February 21 and would visit the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum to pay respect to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, according to a foreign ministry press release issued here on Tuesday.
She is also scheduled to call on President Md. Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and attend a High Tea to be hosted by Mahmood Ali.
Besides, she will address a "Business Meet" to be jointly organized by India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI), Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and Indian Chambers of Commerce (ICC), Kolkata.
She will also attend a reception to be hosted in her honour by the high commissioner of India in Dhaka. Her other engagements would include interaction with eminent cultural personalities of Bangladesh and India.
BBN/SSR/AD-11:40 pm (BST)