Both India and Bangladesh are leading the world to progress with their own development and growth story and both neighbours want stability, peace and love in the world instead of instability, terror and unrest, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during his historic two-day visit to Bangladesh on Saturday.
PM Modi started the second day of his visit by taking the blessings of Goddess Kali and performing pooja at the Jeshoreshwari Kali Shaktipeeth in Satkhira, which is one of the 51 Shaktipeeths in the Puranic tradition.
After being welcomed with the blowing of conches and the beats of drum, Modi placed a mukut, handmade by local artisans for over three weeks and made of silver with gold plating, on Goddess Kali.
Extending a hand of friendship, the Prime Minister also announced a grant for construction of a community hall-cum cyclone shelter attached to the temple. This structure would be used by the devotees during the annual Kali Pooja and mela of the temple and would also be used by broader community of all faiths as a storm shelter and community facility.
The Indian PM then paid tribute at the Mausoleum of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Tungipara. This marked the first ever visit by any foreign Head of State or Head of Government to pay homage at Bangabandhu Mausoleum Complex. He also planted a Bakul tree sapling to commemorate the historic event and was joined by his counterpart, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina accompanied by her sister Sheikh Rehana.
"The life of Bangabandhu epitomized the freedom struggle of the people of Bangladesh for their rights, for the preservation of their inclusive culture and their identity,” PM Modi wrote in the visitor's book.
Post noon, Modi went to Orakandi and offered prayers at the Hari Mandir. "Sought blessings at the Hari Mandir and interacted with the descendants of revered Thakur family. My visit to the Orakandi Thakurbari is an experience I will remember for life," the PM tweeted.
Orakandi is a sacred place closely associated with the Matua Community. Following the Partition in 1947, a sizeable population of Matuas had migrated to West Bengal.
Addressing the gathering at Gopalganj, Modi said that India is moving forward with the mantra of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, and Sabka Vishwas', and Bangladesh has 'Shoho Jatri' in it,
The PM returned to Dhaka to have a one-to-one meeting with PM Hasina at the Prime Minister’s Office before having delegation-level talks at PMO.
The PM wraps up his visit later today and will return to New Delhi tonight.
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PM Modi in Bangladesh: The complete coverage
