"Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi arrived in Dhaka for his visit to Bangladesh at the invitation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. This is the historic visit to celebrate Mujib Borsho - the birth centenary of [the first president of the country] Sheikh Mujibur Rahman; 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties between India and Bangladesh; and 50 years of Bangladesh's war of liberation", the ministry said in a statement.
According to the ministry, Modi was welcomed by his Bangladeshi counterpart, Sheikh Hasina, and her cabinet at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The Indian prime minister was also met with a 19-gun salute and an honour guard.
Bangladesh celebrates its Independence Day on 26 March, the day East Pakistan, which formed a single country with Pakistan at the time, launched its 1971 campaign for liberation and seceded as Bangladesh in December of the same year.
India played a vital role in the conflict, entering into a military confirmation with Pakistan that resulted in both sides signing the Pakistani Instrument of Surrender on 16 December 1971, which ended the war and paved the way to independent Bangladesh.