Indian President Pranab Mukherjee is embarking on a three-day state visit to Bangladesh, starting today.
President Mukherjee’s visit comes at a time when Bangladesh is witnessing violent clashes over the death sentence awarded to a top Islamist opposition (JI) leader on charges of instigating murders, violence and rapes during the 1971 war, in the build up of the fall of Dhaka.
60 people have lost their lives since Thursday when violent protests broke around Bangladesh, soon after the sentence was pronounced.
The Indian president during his visit, would call on his Bangladesh counterpart Mohammed Zillur Rahman, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and that country’s opposition leader Khalida Zia. Bangladesh and India would discuss bilateral unresolved issues such as the border dispute during Mukherjee’s visit.
India and Bangladesh last month signed a liberalized visa agreement and an extradition treaty
Mukherjee, is on his first trip abroad after assuming presidency and is accompanied by his wife Surva Mukherjee, Minister of State for Railways Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and four Member Parliaments (MP).
His maiden trip abroad as a president comes at a time when protests have engulfed Bangladesh following killings of 60 people since Thursday. Protesters have burnt down many a bus and train stations across Bangladesh.
The protests broke on Thursday after Delwar Hossain Sayedee, 73, a Jamat e Islami (JI) elder was sentenced to death by a Bangladeshi court on charges of Raping, killing and looting in the build up of the fall of Dhaka.
