DHAKA: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday visited the Dhakeshwari temple in Lalbagh in the city, the Ramkrishna Mission and inaugurated the Indian High Commission chancery at Baridhara.
"An early morning temple visit. PM@narendramodi worships at the Sree Sree Dhakeshwari Temple in Dhaka," Vikas Swarup, spokesperson of the the external affairs ministry, tweeted.
Last month in Kolkata. This month in Dhaka. PM visits Ramakrishna Mission in Bangladesh. pic.twitter.com/9VeLdyeDz4
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) June 7, 2015The 800-year-old Sri Dhakeshwari Temple in Lalbagh is state-owned, giving it the distinction of being Bangladesh's "national temple".
After offering prayers at the temple, Modi met members of the temple committee and other senior members at the temple.
The Indian prime minister was offered a memento by the temple authorities.
In June 2014, when Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj visited Dhaka, she had also visited the 12th century temple. The Dhakeshwari temple was built by the Sena dynasty king Ballal Sen. The city of Dhaka derives its name from Dhakeshwari, which means goddess of Dhaka.
Modi then visited the Ramkrishna Mission at Gopibagh and was greeted by the monks at the temple. He spoke to the senior monks and posed for pictures with the saffron-robed monks of the Ramakrishna order.
"Last month in Kolkata. This month in Dhaka. PM visits Ramakrishna Mission in Bangladesh," tweeted Swarup.
The Dhaka Ramakrishna Mission Math is a branch of the Belur Math, which Modi visited last month when he was in Kolkata.
Modi then left to visit the the newly-constructed Indian high commission's chancery at Baridhara. He inaugurated the chancery and interacted with the people there. He also planted a bakul sapling in the compound.
Packed schedule on Day 2On the second day of his Bangladesh visit, Narendra Modi has a packed schedule, including a visit to the Dhakeshwari temple and a meeting with President Abdul Hamid. Modi would be visiting the Dhakeshwari and Ramakrishna Mission in the capital and inaugurate the newly-constructed Indian High Commission's Chancery at Baridhara on Sunday. The prime minister will then call on President Hamid at the Bangabhaban. On behalf of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he will receive Bangladesh Liberation War Honour from Hamid. Modi will also attend a luncheon hosted by the president at the Bangabhaban. Later afternoon, Modi will receive a number of political and business leaders at the hotel he is staying. The list includes Leader of the Opposition Raushan Ershad and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia. Modi will deliver a public speech at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the evening. He will depart for New Delhi late evening. On the second day of his Bangladesh visit, the prime minister has a packed schedule |
