PM Hasina receives guard of honour at India’s Rashtrapati Bhavan

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was received by her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan (Indian president's official residence) on the Raisina Hills in New Delhi this morning (September 6, 2022).

A ceremonial guard of honour was accorded to her upon arriving.

Hasina, who is on the second day of a four-day state visit to India, said "our main focus is to develop our people's federation, poverty alleviation, and economy. With all these issues, I feel our two countries work together so that people not only in India and Bangladesh but across South Asia can get better lives. That's our main focus," reports our New Delhi correspondent.

She expressed the hope that she would have "very fruitful" discussion and said "our main aim is to develop economically and also fulfill the basic needs of our people and that we will be able to do.

"With friendship, you can solve any problem. So, we always do that," Hasina told the media at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Describing India as "our friend," she said "whenever I come to India, it's pleasure for me, especially because we always recall the contribution India has made during our liberation war. We have friendly relationship, we are cooperating with each other." Hasina also spoke in Hindi and Bangla.

"A grand welcome for a trusted neighbour," tweeted MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi following Hasina's reception.