Agartala tightens security ahead of Hasina visit

Ahead of the historic visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Tripura, security has been put on a high alert across the border and internal security has also been strengthened across the state.

Hasina will land at Agartala on January 11 with 56 members of a delegation team comprised of several ministers, academics, intellectuals, businessmen and media personalities.

As per the programme schedule, Hasina will arrive at Singerbhil Airport in Tripura on Wednesday for a two-day official visit.

Vice President of India, Hamid Ansari, will arrive in the city at 1.30 PM on January 11. Besides, Union Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal, who is scheduled to receive the Bangladesh prime Minister at Agartala airport, will also arrive early morning on the same day.

On January 12, Bangladesh Prime Minister, Vice President and HRD minister will attend the 9th convocation of Tripura central University. Hasina will inaugurate an open air theatre and unveil a statue of Rabindranath Tagore and then join the convocation procession. Sheikh Hasina will be conferred the honorary D Lit by the Tripura Central University.

Both the dignitaries will address Indian and Bangladesh trade delegations at Prajna Bhavan on January 11 and it is expected that Hasina will also hold a meeting with businessmen to discuss ways to boost trade between Bangladesh and the northeastern states of India.

Following the direction of the central government, Airports Authority of India has been upgrading the Agartala airport with international facilities ahead of the visit of the Bangladesh Prime Minister.