Morshed will meet Indian External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh tomorrow and is to call on Congress President Sonia Gandhi possibly on the same day to hand over a letter from Khaleda, officials said.

He will pay a courtesy call on Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday and give him a separate letter from the Bangladesh premier. Morshed is also expected to interact with other senior Indian leaders, including Commerce and Industry Minister Kamalnath and Water Resources Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunshi.

"We are hopeful that as per the announcement, the alliance government headed by Congress would strengthen regional harmony," Bangladesh's official BSS news agency quoted Morshed as saying yesterday.

"There is no specific agenda for talks, but we are interested to discuss all issues with an open mind."

Marred often in the last six years by bitter war of words and indifference to each other's concerns, the ties between India and Bangladesh now appear to be in for an upswing, if gestures and remarks stemming from the two capitals are anything to go by, diplomats said.

Khaleda was the first foreign head of government to congratulate Sonia on her party's victory in parliamentary elections and Manmohan on his assumption of office.

Both the actions were viewed by official circles in New Delhi as Dhaka's keenness to reach out to the new leadership in India, said the sources, adding it is in the same light that Dhaka's decision to send Khaleda's special envoy is being seen.

The importance attached by the Congress-led alliance to relations with neighboring countries, especially SAARC countries, was reflected in its draft Common Minimum Programme (CMP).

But an important turn came on May 27 when the final version of CMP released to the media also said specifically that "outstanding issues with Bangladesh will be resolved."

This, diplomatic observers said, signaled New Delhi's readiness for a turn around in ties with Dhaka.

Significantly, it was on May 27 that the first high-level contact between the two countries was established -- over telephone -- when Morshed spoke to Natwar and India's National Security Advisor JN Dixit.

While India assured Morshed that outstanding issues with Bangladesh will be sorted out, the Bangladesh foreign minister in turn thanked Natwar for his statement for greater understanding among South Asian neighbors.

Morshed said Dhaka considered Natwar as a "tested friend" and recalled the meeting he had with him at the residence of Sonia during his previous trip to Delhi.

These apart, the remarks made by Indian Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Priyaranjan on two key irritants in India-Bangladesh ties -- illegal migration and interlink of rivers -- must have been music to Dhaka's ears, observers said.

The remarks, according to the observers, of both ministers indicated a subtle shift from the high-decibel approach of the previous BJP-led government to the two prickly issues in bilateral relations.

Soon after taking charge of his ministry, Patil told reporters that the 'issue of illegal immigration from Bangladesh has to be dealt with a human approach because the immigration is largely prompted by economic considerations'.

"You cannot compare the illegal influx from Bangladesh with the infiltration happening across the Line of Control (with Pakistan) in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Bangladeshis come here mostly to seek employment and thus their deportation should be done with a human face, without causing them unnecessary harassment," Patil said.

His articulation of view on the issue is in keeping with the Congress party's known stand.

In his first formal press conference in Kolkata, also on May 27, Priyaranjan held out an assurance that India would not take up any plan that would be "detrimental" to Bangladesh's interest.

He also made it clear that the Indian government would not go for a 'hasty' decision on the interlink proposal without taking state governments concerned into confidence and considering international ramifications.

Priyaranjan also said the report of the taskforce headed by Suresh Prabhu and set up by the previous government on the interlinking of 30 rivers was not sufficiently exhaustive and the feasibility of the project has not been adequately studied.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) of Congress-led alliance is cautious in wording its stand on the interlink of rivers. It merely says it will examine the techno-economic feasibility of the project.

The cautiousness is but natural considering the fact the project lacks political consensus within India itself. Several Indian NGOs have also opposed the project and it is no secret that Congress governments in states like Kerala and Karnataka, Mulayam Singh Yadav-headed Samajwadi Party, which governs Uttar Pradesh state, Laloo Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal, which rules Bihar, and the left parties ruling West Bengal have reservations about it.

Although the BJP-led government had bandied about the interlink project as a polls issue, it could not bring about a consensus even in more than a year.

Priyaranjan pointed out that the idea of interlinking of rivers was first put forward by then irrigation minister KL Rao in the Indira Gandhi government, he himself had later termed the project as not feasible.

Another key area of interest during Morshed's visit will be his talks with Kamal Nath. Dhaka no doubt seeks greater access to Indian markets and lowering of non-tariff barriers for this.

There is reason for hope, said diplomatic sources, because economic diplomacy is likely to get emphasis in New Delhi, especially with Manmohan, considered the architect of Indian economic reform, at the helms of affairs.

But the bonhomie apart, both sides need to address some other sensitive issues on the security front, said the sources.

India has been repeatedly asking Bangladesh to crack down on camps of Indian insurgents and other terrorists in that country and Dhaka has been in steady denial mode in the past.

The BJP-led government had conveyed that mere denial would not be helpful and it remains what is the stand of the new government in India.

It was argued if the previous government's going on high pitched campaign about the security concern in ties with Dhaka may not have been a better option, the consensus by and large in India is that Bangladesh must be goaded to rethink on its denial mode and take some concrete verifiable action against the Indian insurgents.

The difference between the BJP-led government and Congress-led coalition on the illegal immigration issue is not in the content but in handling the problem, said the sources.

BSS adds Morshed will also seize the chance to meet former Indian prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

On his way back home, he is scheduled to meet West Bengal Chief Minister Budhadev Bhattacharya and former chief minister Jyoti Basu.