Orakandi temple in Bangladesh is gearing up to welcome Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is expected to visit it during his two-day trip to the neighbouring nation this week. The temple bears significance as it is the sacred shrine of the Matua community.

Subrato Thakur, chairman of Kashiani upazila parishad, and also a member of Thakur Family, told The Daily Star, "All the family members along with all the followers of Harichand Thakur, the founder of the Matua community, are very happy as the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Orakandi. We the family members of Harichand Thakur are painting the temple."

Padmanav Thakur, president of Bangladesh Matua Mahacommission, told the newspaper, "We came to know that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pray at the temple of Harichand Thakur. He will also exchange views with the family members of Harichand Thakur."

The government is constructing four helipads, 500 metres of road and a rest house on the occasion of PM Modi's visit, added Subrato Thakur.

Md Habibur Rahman, engineer of Kashiani Upazila Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), told the newspaper, "We have been making four helipads and 500 metres of HBB roads inside Thakur Bari. We have also been repairing eight kilometres road from Tilchor of Dhaka-Khulna Highway to Thakurbari and 600 metres road from Rahut-Thakurbari entrance."

Md Azizur Rahman, officer in-charge of Kashiani Police Station, told The Daily Star, "Primarily we have taken all kinds security measures as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit the Orakandi Temple."

The officials of the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh have already visited Orakandi to lay the groundwork for Modi's visit, Matuacharya Padmanabha Thakur, head of Bangladesh MatuaMoha Mission, told the newspaper.

At the invitation of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Modi will be visiting Bangladesh on March 26-27.

This visit is in connection with the commemoration of three epochal events - Mujib Borsho, the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman; 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties between India and Bangladesh; and 50 years of Bangladesh’s war of liberation. Modi had last visited Bangladesh in 2015.

During the visit, Modi will attend the National Day programme of Bangladesh on March 26 as a guest of honour.

(IBNS)