"The foreign minister expected that the young journalists would understand the issues in their right perspective and look at them dispassionately and objectively," said the spokesman of the foreign ministry.

The issues include"particularly trade, security, including human security and natural resources management," he said in a statement.

The statement came following reporters' query on a statement by the official spokesperson of Indian ministry of external affairs and a day after the Bangladesh high commissioner to India was summoned by the Indian foreign secretary to express India's surprise and dismay over Morshed's remarks.

"Maintaining friendly relations with India is central to Bangladesh's foreign policy and Bangladesh remains committed to moving these relations forward through a continuous process of dialogue and meaningful cooperation at various levels to find mutually acceptable solutions to all outstanding issues," the foreign ministry stressed.

With a secretary-level bilateral meeting on border-related issues due next week and a Joint River Commission meet this week, Foreign Secretary Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury told BBC Radio last night they hoped Morshed's comments would not adversely affect those meetings.

On Tuesday, Morshed launched a broadside at India on security, economic and water sharing issues while addressing the opening session of a dialogue for young journalists of Bangladesh and India.

In his address, Morshed denied Indian allegations that 195 camps of Indian insurgents exist in Bangladesh, allegations that were renewed by two senior Indian ministers two weeks ago.

"The list of insurgent camps from their (Indian) side increases at every meeting between us. But they have not been able to provide a single telephone number or address of these camps," the foreign minister had told the function.

On the other hand, he said, "We have given phone numbers, fax numbers and office addresses of Bangladeshi insurgent groups like Bangabhumi Andolon, who are in India, and criminals who are hosted by some groups there, but they have not done anything about it."

He had also criticised non-tariff barriers against Bangladeshi exports to India though India enjoys huge trade surplus. He warned of similar measures against Indian goods exported to Bangladesh to maintain a 'win-win' situation for both the countries.

On border problems, the foreign minister had accused India of offering discussions only after creating the issues.

Morshed's address at the function came after Indian High Commissioner Veena Sikri's speech in which she made remarks on bilateral issues including security, water-sharing and management, and trade.

Sikri returned to New Delhi Thursday. Before her departure, she had met with the principal secretary to the prime minister and conveyed her displeasure at Morshed's remarks, sources said.

Indian newspaper The Hindustan Times reported yesterday its sources said though New Delhi had been perturbed at remarks being made by some quarters in the Bangladesh government linking India to the August 21 attack on an Awami League rally, it had preferred not to make it a diplomatic issue in the interest of good neighbourly relations. However, the minister's (Morshed's) remarks came as the last straw.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh High Commissioner in New Delhi Hemayetuddin is due to return to Dhaka today. Foreign ministry officials said he will be in town to attend the secretary-level meetings.