External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has greeted his Bangladesh counterpart AK Abdul Momen as Dhaka celebrated its National day, saying that he looked forward to adding “more pages to the golden chapter of India-Bangladesh Maitri.”

“Look forward to working together to add more pages to the golden chapter of India-Bangladesh Maitri. #ShonaliAdhyay,” Jaishankar tweeted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has underlined the need to pursue a Neighbours’ First policy, called Bangladesh a “soho-jatri” or a co traveller.

Earlier in the month, BJP’s Vijay Chauthaiwale, who is in charge of handling the party’s foreign affairs department, visited Dhaka with the aim to kick off party to party engagements with Bangladesh’s Awami League.

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This is Chauthaiwale’s first trip to Dhaka. Sources said that Chauthaiwale is expected to invite members of the ruling Awami League to India as well.

In a tweet he said, “Visiting Bangladesh on the invitation of Bangladesh Awami League to initiate party to party dialog. Looking forward to my first trip to Bangladesh.”

“The party to party meets are equally important though they fail to grab the headlines. Much of the groundwork takes place in these meetings which are crucial for feedback and overall analysis of the status,” a foreign policy watcher who did not wish to be identified told India Narrative.

India, Bangladesh and Nepal have pressed the pedal on activating the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal Motor Vehicles Agreement (BBIN MVA) pact at the earliest. On March 7 and 8, a meeting between India, Bangladesh, and Nepal on the same was held in New Delhi. Bhutan too participated in the meeting but as an observer.

Bhutan has decided to play the role of an observer and not be a full-fledged part of the agreement.