FROM SHANTINIKETAN: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi inaugurated the 'Bangladesh Bhaban’ at Visva Bharati University in Shantiniketan of West Bengal.

The premiers jointly unveiled 'Bangladesh Bhaban’ at 12:55pm (BST) on Friday (May 25).

Rabindranath Tagore's song 'Anandaloke Mongolaloke’ was played at the ceremony while the vice chancellor of Visva Bharati delivered the opening remarks.

PM Hasina attended Visva Bharati Convocation Ceremony as the Guest of Honour and also scheduled to hold a meeting with Indian PM Narendra Modi there.

Bangladesh Bhaban was built with the funds of Bangladesh government. The building was constructed by the Indian construction firm 'National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC)'. The Bhaban houses a museum showcasing Rabindranath Tagore's association with Bangladesh, Indo-Bangla relations, and Bangladesh Liberation War. 

Earlier in the morning, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka for Kolkata on a two-day official visit to India at the invitation of her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

A Biman Bangladesh Airlines VVIP flight carrying the premier and her entourage members took off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, in the morning. 

After the reception at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, Sheikh Hasina went to Shantiniketan near Bolpur in Birbhum district of West Bengal, approximately 180 km north of Kolkata by a helicopter.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor and Prime Minister's four Advisers on Political, Economic, Foreign and Energy affairs are accompanying the Prime Minister.

BDST: 1456 HRS, MAY 25, 2018
AP