Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has extended her heartfelt congratulations to the Trinamool Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee on taking oath as the Chief Minister of West Bengal for a third straight term. “The huge victory of the Trinamool Congress in the Assembly elections of 2021 is a reflection of deep-rooted trust of the West Bengal people in you,” she said in a congratulatory message sent to Banerjee yesterday (May 5) soon after she was sworn in as the chief minister. The Prime Minister, in her message, also wished overall development and continued progress of the West Bengal people under the dynamic leadership of Mamata Banerjee. Sheikh Hasina hoped that the relations between Bangladesh and West Bengal will be closer that would help build a prosperous future for the people of two Bangla. Against the backdrop of the Coronavirus onslaught on the lives and livelihoods, the Prime Minister said, “In a critical time of the Coronavirus, we are committed to working together to overcome the global pandemic depending on the friendly regional assistances.” Mentioning that India is a genuine friend of Bangladesh the Prime Minister said that the relation between the people of West Bengal and Bangladesh is very close, cordial and hearty. In her congratulatory message, she said, “I wish your (Mamata Banerjee’s) good health, long life and continued success.” Sheikh Hasina also said that she with due respect is recalling the contribution of the people and the political leaders of West Bengal to the history of Bangladesh’s War of Liberation and the same cultural heritage and lifestyle both Bangladesh and West Bengal share in an auspicious occasion when Bangladesh is celebrating the Mujib Borsho, the golden jubilee of the country’s independence and 50 years of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and India. Source: BSS AH

Indian West Bengal state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has sent birthday gifts to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The gifts were sent to Prime Minister’s Office through Benapole check post on Monday evening. In this regard Deputy Commissioner of Bangladesh High Commission in India BM Jamal Hossain said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sent gift items in their office greeting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on her birthday. They then sent the gift items to PMO through Benapole check post. Officer in Charge of Benapole immigration police station Ahsan Habib said that West Bengal Chief Minister sent some birthday gifts for the Prime Minister. A representative of the High Commission started for Dhaka along with the gifts. AH  

Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee at a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday showed interest to import bicycles from Bangladesh. “There’s a huge demand for bicycles in West Bengal. So, Bangladesh can utilize this opportunity by exporting bicycles to West Bengal,” Mamata said. Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen briefed reporters about the outcome of the meeting. Placing two proposals in this regard, the West Bengal chief minister said Bangladesh entrepreneurs can set up bicycle industries in joint venture in West Bengal and her government will allocate lands for them. Secondly, she said, Bangladeshi investors can set up such industries in Bangladesh’s bordering areas. It will reduce transportation cost to a great extent, Mamata said. Dr Momen said the West Bengal chief minister put emphasis on cooperation between Bangladesh and West Bengal in the fields of education, healthcare and industries. Mamata apprised the Prime Minister of their social welfare programs and mentioned that West Bengal achieved the highest 8 percent GDP among Indian states. In this context, Sheikh Hasina also focused on social safety net programs of Bangladesh as well as various steps of her government for the development of education in the country. At the outset of the meeting, they exchanged greetings, said the Foreign Minister. He said the West Bengal chief minister thanked the Prime Minister for visiting Kolkata to watch the historic day-night Test match between Bangladesh and India at Eden Gardens. Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque, PMO Secretary Sajjadul Hassan, Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali and Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Riva Ganguli Das were present. Sheikh Hasina on Friday morning went to Kolkata on a short visit and jointly rang the bell for the opening of the ever-first day-night Test match for both Bangladesh and India. Source: UNB AH

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee on Friday rang the ceremonial bell for the opening of the historic day-night Test match between Bangladesh and India at the Eden Gardens Stadium in Kolkata. The Prime Minister arrived at the Eden Gardens at 12:25pm (local time) and rang the bell at 12:55 pm along with Mamata Banerjee to inaugurate the historic Test match that will be played with ‘pink ball’ from November 22 to 26. In the first-ever day-night match for the two teams, Tigers won the toss and chose to bat first. The Prime Minister exchanged greetings with players of the two teams – Bangladesh and India – in the field. Former cricket players of the two teams were present. She arrived in Kolkata on Friday morning to join the opening ceremony of the Test match at invitation of her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Sourav Ganguly. But Narendra Modi could not join the event in Kolkata due to his pre-occupation. During her visit to Kolkata, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is being treated as a state guest. After watching the first session of the second Test match, the Prime Minister will return to her place of residence -- Hotel Taj Bengal Kolkata. In the evening, she will again go to the stadium. After the first day's match, she will attend a small cultural program to be followed by a felicitation program arranged by the Cricket Association of Bengal at the ground of Eden Gardens Stadium and deliver her speech. Later, she will go to the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. The Prime Minister will depart Kolkata by a special flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines at 10 pm (local time) and land at Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) at 11:30pm (Bangladesh time). Source: UNB AH

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will get together at Shantiniketan in West Bengal on Friday. They will meet at Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan at the inaugural ceremony of Bangladesh Bhaban. Reports UNB. There is no official confirmation that there will be formal talks between Prime Minister Hasina and Mamata on Teesta water sharing, though there are speculations. As per her tentative program, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to leave Dhaka for Kolkata at 8am on May 25. After her arrival at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport by a VVIP flight, Hasina and Modi will leave Kolkata for Bolpur subdivision in Birbhum by a helicopter to join the convocation of Visva Bharati University at 9am.  Visva Bharati Vice Chancellor Prof Sabuj Koli Sen will receive Sheikh Hasina and Modi, said an official.  Hasina and Modi will inaugurate the Bangladesh Bhaban.  Earlier, Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor said Bangladesh Bhaban will be a symbol of Bangladesh-India friendship. He said it will turn into a centre point of practicing literature, art and culture of Bangladesh and India and for relevant research.  Hasina and Modi will hold a meeting over lunch at the Bangladesh Bhaban, according to her draft tour itinerary. After attending the program, Modi will depart for New Delhi while return to Kolkata by a helicopter.  She will visit Jorashanko Thakur Bari in Kolkata, Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral home, which been turned into a museum dedicated to the life and works of the Nobel laureate from 4:45pm to 5:30pm.  On May 26, Prime Minister Hasina will leave Kolkata for Asansole to receive an honorary D Litt degree to be conferred upon her by Kazi Nazrul University at its third convocation. Hasina will also visit Netaji Museum. She will leave Kolkata for Dhaka on Saturday evening. Bangladesh High Commissioner in New Delhi Syed Moazzem Ali will see her off. AH