Sonia Gandhi Accepts Hasina's Invitation To Visit Bangladesh For 50th I-Day Celebration

Sonia Gandhi's meeting with Hasina came "especially considering the bond of friendship between the two families", said the statement.

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New Delhi: Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi on Sunday accepted the invitation extended by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to visit her country on the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's liberation. The Congress party made the announcement in an official statement. Earlier today, the Bangladesh PM extended invitation to the members of the Gandhi family, including Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi to attend the celebration . Sonia Gandhi's meeting with Hasina came "especially considering the bond of friendship between the two families", said the statement. A Congress delegation comprising Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rajya Sabha MP Anand Sharma met the Bangladesh Prime Minister here on Sunday morning, a day after she met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sheikh Hasina was accompanied by Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abdul Momen, senior ministers and her advisers. In the meeting, she recalled with gratitude India's support for Bangladesh's liberation and the special bond of friendship that her father and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman shared with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the statement said, adding she also revisited the period after his assassination when she lived in exile in Delhi. Sonia Gandhi congratulated Sheikh Hasina on winning the 3rd consecutive term as Prime Minister with the people of Bangladesh reaffirming their trust in her leadership and vision, while Manmohan Singh complimented here for the impressive economic growth made by the country and her initiatives that have led to commendable improvement of social indicators, particularly health and education. "Sheikh Hasina and Sonia Gandhi also referred to the historic relationship between Indian National Congress and Awami League and reaffirmed the commitment of both the parties to strengthen the party to party exchange at leadership level. "The leaders exchanged views on wide range of subject of mutual interest which included bilateral relations, the issues pertaining to regional and global economy," said the statement. (with inputs from IANS)