*New Delhi: *Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bangladesh on March 17, 2020, to attend the birth centenary celebrations of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has been put off.
Cancellation came after the commemorative programmes were deferred due to detection of coronavirus cases in Bangladesh, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Monday (March 9, 2020).
In response to queries regarding the visit of Prime Minister to Bangladesh, the Official Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "We have received formal notification from the government of Bangladesh that a decision has been taken by them to defer the public events being organized to celebrate the centenary of the birth of the Father of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, on account of the detection of cases of coronavirus in Bangladesh, and the larger global public health situation in this regard."
"The impact of this deferment applies also to the large gathering planned for March 17, at which the Prime Minister of India was invited.
The government of Bangladesh has advised us that fresh dates for these commemorative events will be conveyed later," said the MEA spokesperson.