New Delhi: On the occasion of New Year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday had telephonic conversations with the leaders of neighbouring countries including his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina and emphasised India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy. Modi spoke to the leaders of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and the Maldives. The Prime Minister spoke to Hasina and reviewed the bilateral ties between the two countries.

During the call, Modi congratulated Hasina on being re-elected as the President of the Awami League for the next three years and also expressed his condolence on the untimely demise of former High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India Syed Muazzem Ali, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a statement. The Prime Minister, at the same time, also noted the progress achieved in India-Bangladesh relations in 2019.