Diplomatic Correspondent

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, currently in New Delhi on a two-day state visit to India, was accorded a warm ceremonial reception by her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan on Saturday.

A red carpet was rolled out for Sheikh Hasina and national anthems of Bangladesh and India were played during the ceremony.

On her arrival at the presidential palace around 9am, the Bangladesh prime minister was received by her Indian counterpart.

A horse-mounted team of the president's bodyguards escorted her motorcade from the Rashtrapati Bhavan gate to the forecourt.

Sheikh Hasina was given a guard of honour by a smartly turned-out contingent drawn from three services of the Indian Armed Forces. She inspected the guard and received a salute.

Then the Indian prime minister introduced his cabinet colleagues to Sheikh Hasina at the presentation line. The Bangladesh prime minister also introduced her entourage members to Narendra Modi.

Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud, Ambassador-at-large Mohammad Ziauddin, Prime Minister’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak, State Minister for Commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu, Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Md Mustafizur Rahman, Bangladesh Bank Governor Abdur Rouf Talukder, Power Division Secretary Md Habibur Rahman, Bangladesh Satellite Company Ltd Chairman Shahjahan Mahmood, Armed Forces Division Principal Staff Officer Lieutenant General Mizanur Rahman Shameem, Railways Secretary Md Humayun Kabir, Economic Relations Division Secretary Md Shariar Kader Siddiky, PM's Press Secretary M Nayeemul Islam Khan, Speechwriter M Nazrul Islam, Awami League Presidium member Kazi Zafarullah, and other members of her entourage were present during the ceremony.