Current affairs

For the first time in 15 months, PM Modi steps on foreign soil...Makes the debut ride on Air India One!

By alagu, 26 March, 2021
Narendra Modi, COVID-19, Coronavirus

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has on Friday stepped on foreign soil for the first time in 15 months as he has landed in Bangladesh for a two-day visit, which has become a significant start for his foreign tours even as the country braces up for the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Prime Minister will take part in a wide range of programmes aimed at furthering cooperation between the two neighbors. 

Narendra Modi had previously visited a foreign country in November 2019 and he didn't cross the borders in 2020 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the nationwide lockdown triggered by the outbreak. In 2020, India had acquired special Boeing 777 aircraft for carrying the VVIPs including the President, Vice President, and the Prime Minister for the national and international tours. Came with the call sign of 'Air India One', the aircraft is made up of sophisticated technologies exclusively developed as per the requirements of the Indian leaders. 

Though President Ram Nath Kovind had made his debut ride in Air India One last year, the aircraft had waited to touch down at foreign soil with the Prime Minister on board. After months of its arrival, Narendra Modi had on Friday made his debut rise in the special aircraft as he arrived in Dhaka, Bangladesh on Friday. Upon his arrival, the Prime Minister was received by his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina. 

Narendra Modi was given a royal red-carpet welcome by the Bangladesh armed forces, displaying the significance of the relations between the two countries. The Prime Minister had on Thursday said that he will hold substantive discussions with Sheikh Hasina during the visit and he expressed happiness that his first foreign tour after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic will be to a friendly neighboring country with which India shares deep ties. 

On Friday, the Prime Minister Office (PMO) took to Twitter and shared Narendra Modi's photograph, minutes ahead of the airlift, as he embarked into the aircraft. By posting his photograph, the PMO wrote, "PM @narendramodi emplanes for Dhaka. During his Bangladesh visit, he will take part in a wide range of programmes aimed at furthering cooperation with our friendly neighbour."

Narendra Modi will take part in Bangladesh's centenary celebration of Bangladesh's father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, 50 years of the war of liberation as well as 50 years of diplomatic relations with India. The visit comes at a high time when India is in a need of revamping the ties with the neighbors to emerge as one of the power centers in Asia amid the ongoing troubling relations with Pakistan and China. On Wednesday, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said, "This is the first visit of the Prime Minister since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it highlights the significance India attaches to its ties with Bangladesh".

He added, "Bangladesh is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its liberation war. India had lent its full support for this noble cause, Indian soldiers also sacrificed their lives. Both countries are also celebrating the establishment of diplomatic ties this year. India was the first country to recognize Bangladesh and it is also the year of the commemoration of the 100th birth anniversary of Sheikh Mujib". 

On Thursday, Narendra Modi said, "As I leave for Bangladesh tomorrow, I look forward to remembering the life and ideals of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and celebrate 50 years of Bangladesh’s War of Liberation, as well as our diplomatic ties." Modi was received by Sheikh Hasina at Dhaka airport and after landing, Modi took to Twitter and wrote, "Landed in Dhaka. I thank PM Sheikh Hasina for the special welcome at the airport. This visit will contribute to even stronger bilateral relations between our nations."

 

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