Modi confirms Dhaka visit

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has confirmed his visit to Bangladesh to attend the 'Mujib Borsho' celebration on March 17 and there will be a bilateral component of his visit.

This was stated by Raveesh Kumar, spokesman of India's External Affairs Ministry, at the weekly media briefing, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

He said "we will share more details" on the Indian PM's visit "in due course".

The formal announcement by Kumar about Modi's visit to Dhaka -- to attend the celebration marking birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman -- comes three days after Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla paid a two-day visit to the Bangladesh capital and met the top leadership of the country, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The invitation to Modi to attend the launch of the 'Mujib Borsho' celebration was extended by Sheikh Hasina during her visit to Delhi in October last year.

"Our Prime Minister has accepted the invite and he will undertake the visit to Bangladesh," Kumar said.

The announcement of Modi's visit to Dhaka came on a day when he also said that the Indian PM's visit to Brussels for the India-European Union Summit has been postponed in view of the worldwide outbreak of coronavirus.

Raveesh Kumar said the health authorities of India and Belgium suggested that travelling must not take place at present. "So, it has been decided that Summit will be rescheduled on a mutually convenient date," he added.