Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, will engage in a crucial meeting on Saturday aimed at shaping the future trajectory of bilateral relations.

This is the second meeting of the two prime ministers in less than two weeks, as Sheikh Hasina attended the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi on June 9.

Saturday's full-fledged bilateral meeting comes at a pivotal time for both nations, as Modi formed the government for the third consecutive term on June 9 and Hasina came to power for the fourth successive term following the January 7 elections.

The meeting also comes at a time when the Bay of Bengal region is experiencing volatility due to the unrest in neighbouring Myanmar.

During the meeting, analysts say they will seek to bolster cooperation in various strategic areas, address ongoing challenges, and explore new opportunities for collaboration.

The Bangladesh foreign ministry did not make any official statement about the visit. The Indian External Affairs Ministry, however, termed it “very important.”

“It is a very important visit for us. The first state visit from the neighbouring countries. Both sides have a lot of expectations because the relationship is so special and so friendly,” spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in New Delhi on Friday.

“Both sides are committed to deepening and strengthening this very special partnership,” he added.

Both leaders will witness the signing of a number of agreements and MoUs after the bilateral meeting Saturday.

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met the prime minister at her place of residence in Delhi on Friday evening after her arrival, and said her visit to India “underlines our close and abiding ties”.

“[I] Appreciate her guidance on the further development of our special partnership,” he tweeted after the meeting.

Apart from holding bilateral consultations with Modi, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will call-on Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar during the visit.

Trade and economic cooperation, security and border management, connectivity and infrastructure, water sharing and environmental issues, and cultural and people-to-people ties are some of the areas that will dominate the talks.

PM Hasina arrives in New Delhi on two-day state visitPM Hasina arrives in New Delhi on two-day state visit

Since there has been no internal breakthrough in India regarding the Teesta water-sharing agreement with Bangladesh, Dhaka is planning a Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project, which will require about $1 billion for implementation.

China has stepped in to fund the project; however, India has also shown interest in financing it. This issue will also come up during the bilateral talk. 

Besides, the Ganga river water sharing agreement will expire in 2026.

Issues such as connectivity, port, and defence will also be discussed. Fresh loans from India under a new framework will also be discussed, as Bangladesh is facing a crunch in foreign currency reserves. Both countries have already started trading in their own currencies to offset dollar pressure.

Jaishankar lauds PM Hasina's guidance on further development of special partnershipJaishankar lauds PM Hasina's guidance on further development of special partnership

Rohingya refugee issues, particularly the intense fighting in the Rakhine State, will also feature during the delegation-level meeting, as indicated by the officials concerned.

“Bangladesh is a key partner and trusted neighbour of India. The visit will give a major boost to this celebrated bilateral partnership,” the Indian MEA spokesperson tweeted when the prime minister arrived in New Delhi.

A flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the prime minister and her entourage landed at Palam Airport in New Delhi at 4pm.

Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh received her at the airport. The prime minister was welcomed by traditional folk dancing there.

A red carpet will be rolled out at Rashtrapati Bhavan this morning to receive her, following state protocol, by Prime Minister Modi. The prime minister will also inspect the guard of honour there.

“The visit (twice in two weeks) underscores that Bangladesh and India stand by each other, providing leadership and serving as a source of stability and prosperity in resolving bilateral and regional issues that could undermine the region's prosperity,” Dr Ashikur Rahman, a principal economist of the Policy Research Institute in Bangladesh, told Dhaka Tribune.

“Both newly elected governments should elevate economic and political relations to new heights to ensure regional security, peace, and prosperity,” he expected.

“In particular, the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to offer strong commitment to the Bay of Bengal region, which is currently facing instability due to the unrest in the Arakan region—a situation that could potentially undermine the economic prospects in the Bay of Bengal region.”

He said: “If Bangladesh and India truly aim to harness the benefits of the blue economy in the Bay of Bengal region, then peace and stability in the neighboring regions, especially in Arakan and Myanmar, must be ensured. Bangladesh and India are likely to align on the same page on these issues.”

This is the first bilateral visit by any head of government or state to India after the BJP-led alliance formed the new government.

The roads in New Delhi were decorated with the flags of Bangladesh and India and placards of the two prime ministers. Various types of placards welcoming PM Sheikh Hasina in different languages were also placed on both sides of the roads from Palam Airport to Hotel Taj Palace.

The relationship between Bangladesh and India is deeply rooted in historical, cultural, and linguistic ties. Both leaders have previously demonstrated a commitment to nurturing this relationship through regular, high-level interactions and cooperative initiatives. They met on 10 occasions, including virtual meetings, in the last five years.

The prime minister is scheduled to return home tonight.