Modi to visit Bangladesh ahead of polls

Narendra Modi
Narendra Modi

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi is planning to visit Bangladesh to demonstrate New Delhi’s support to Dhaka in an election year, reports Indian English-language daily The Economic Times.

The visit may take place by this June.

Published on Sunday, the Indian newspaper article said Modi’s proposed visit to Bangladesh is critical as the Sheikh Hasina government hopes to clinch Teesta river water-sharing agreement.

“Teesta pact will boost ruling Awami League’s popularity in a poll year,” the Times observed in a report titled “PM Modi plans Bangladesh, Nepal visit for regional push”.

Meanwhile, India’s foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale could visit Dhaka in the near future to give further momentum to the “warm partnership”, the newspaper said quoting people aware of the matter.

Modi may also visit Nepal and Bhutan as part of his government’s policy to focus on neighbourhood, according to the report.

These visits, the Times added, are being planned amid China’s relentless push to make inroads into the Himalayan states and attempts to implement projects in Bangladesh under its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).