India, Bangladesh to hold talks; PM's visit on agenda

New Delhi/Dhaka: Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao Monday began a two-day visit to Dhaka during which the two sides will review their cooperation in countering terrorism and discuss issues like trade and water-sharing that could top the agenda for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's likely visit to Bangladesh later this year.

Rao was received by senior Bangladeshi officials at Hazrat Shah Jalal International Airport in Dhaka.

During her visit, Rao is expected to call on Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni and other Bangladeshi officials.

Issues like enhanced counter-terror cooperation, bridging the trade deficit and an agreement on the sharing of waters of the Teesta river are among issues will be discussed during the visit, officials said in New Delhi.

The two sides will also discuss a boundary agreement. Only about 6.1 km of the frontier remains to be demarcated.

Rao's trip is likely to followed by that of External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna to India's eastern neighbour, setting the stage for Manmohan Singh's likely visit to Dhaka later this year. Manmohan Singh last visited Dhaka to participate in the SAARC summit in 2005.

Sheikh Hasina's visit to India nearly two years ago heralded a warming of ties between the two neighbours that had stagnated during her predecessor's tenure.

The visit saw India announcing a $1 billion line of credit for a slew of development projects in Bangladesh and the signing of crucial bilateral agreements on enhanced security cooperation.

 

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