The Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina Wazed, came for the inaugural function and also went to Shantiniketan to accept the Viswa Bharati's highest award, Deshikottama, at a glittering function there. She also took some time off to visit the birthplace of Bangladesh's national poet, Kazi Nazrul Islam.

Sheikh Hasina went out of her way to ensure that this visit could be as fruitful as possible. During her talks with the chief minister of Bengal, she touched upon the infiltration problem and laid out an assurance that any needling problems would be solved. She also said that it was high time that the two countries were linked by a bus route; ``If we can fly to each other, why should the roads be blocked?'' she asked. The Prime Minister said that the bus route was now only a formality which needed signing of papers since a decision had already been taken in principle.

Dwelling further on the political relationship of the two countries, she said that the Ganga Waters Treaty had achieved a lot and that more such treaties would be signed between the two countries.``If India wants our help in manpower, we are game,'' she added. Sheikh Hasina also said that joint ventures were welcome in the spheres of gas and power.