Hasina hosts banquet in Modi\\\'s honour

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina hosted a banquet in honour of visiting Indian Premier Narendra Modi at Pan Pacific Sonargaon in the city on Saturday. Apart from Modi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and other entourage members of the Indian PM joined the banquet. Later, Sheikh Hasina, Narendra Modi and Mamata Banerjee enjoyed a colourful cultural function performed by renowned Bangladeshi artistes. The artistes projected history, culture and heritage of Bangladesh and India through their magnificent performance. In the afternoon, Hasina and Modi held bilateral talks at the Prime Minister’s office. Meanhwile, Bangladesh and India signed 21 agreements, protocols and instruments, including a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Bangladesh to provide it with $2 billion line of credit (LoC) to support funding to the physical infrastructure projects. Officials at the finance ministry told earlier that the fund would be used for development of the railway, power, health, education, ICT and water transports on a priority basis. India also signed 21 more agreements with Bangladesh, marking the historical visit of PM Modi. Following the signing of the agreement, Modi said these would give a new dimension to India-Bangladesh relations. "22 important agreements have been signed today that will give a new dimension to India-Bangladesh ties," Modi tweeted following the signing of the agreement. The Indian premier also posted a full list of the 22 deals signed, exchanged, adopted and handed over between Bangladesh and India. Following is the list: Exchange of Instruments of Ratification of 1974 Land Boundary Agreement and its 2011 Protocol, Exchange of letters on Modalities for implementation of 1974 Land Boundary Agreement and its 2011 Protocol, Bilateral Trade Agreement (renewal), Agreement on Coastal Shipping between Bangladesh and India, Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (renewal), Bilateral Cooperation Agreement between Bangladesh Standards & Testing Institution (BSTI) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) on Cooperation in the field of Standardization, Agreement on Dhaka-Shillong-Guwahati Bus Service and its Protocol, Agreement on Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala Bus Service and its Protocol, Memorandum of Understanding between Coast Guards, Memorandum of Understanding on Prevention of Human Trafficking, Memorandum of Understanding on Prevention of Smuggling and Circulation Fake Currency Notes, Memorandum of Understanding between Bangladesh and India and for Extending a New Line of Credit (LoC) for US $2 billion by Government of India to Government of Bangladesh, Memorandum of Understanding on Blue Economy and Maritime Cooperation in the Bay of Bengal and the India Ocean, Memorandum of Understanding on Use of Chittagong and Mongla Ports, Memorandum of Understanding for a Project under IECC (India Endowment for Climate Change) of SAARC, Memorandum of Understanding on Indian Economic Zone, Cultural Exchange Programme for the years 205-17, Statement of Intent on Bangladesh-India Education Cooperation (adoption), Agreement between Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited (BSCCL) and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) fir leasing of international bandwidth for internet at Akhaura, Memorandum of Understanding between University of Dhaka, Bangladesh and University of Jamia Milia Islamia, India, Memorandum of Understanding between University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh and University of Jamia Milia Islamia, India, and Handing over of Consent Letter by Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (IDRA), Bangladesh to Life Insurance Cooperation (LIC), India to start operation in Bangladesh, according to BSS.