Talking to reporters at Zia International Airport prior to his departure for New Delhi ending his daylong visit to Dhaka, Pranab said both Dhaka and New Delhi agreed to take steps to place bilateral relations on an 'irreversible higher trajectory'.

Pranab, who arrived to invite Bangladesh to the 14th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) Summit in New Delhi on April 3-4, also said the issue of restrictions being placed on import of cosmetics from Bangladesh has been resolved.

He also termed the current state of affairs in Bangladesh 'an internal matter of Bangladesh' and hoped that people of this country will get the opportunity of electing a government of their own through a free, fair and credible democratic election.

"As long as the present state of affairs is the concern, it is an internal matter of Bangladesh. We always want that the people of Bangladesh will have the opportunity of electing a government of their own choice through a free, fair, peaceful and credible democratic election," he said.

Speaking on his talks with Chief Adviser to the Caretaker Government Fakhruddin Ahmed, and with Foreign Affairs Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, the Indian minister said Bangladesh has offered to make the Sealdah-Joydebpur passenger train service operational early and to build a bridge over Raghnacherria river.

He said both Bangladesh and India in their talks 'have agreed to jointly combat terrorism, which today poses the most grave challenge to both the societies and threatens rapid economic development of the nations'.

Replying to a question about Bangladesh's concern about the Indian Tipaimukh Dam, Pranab said the matter came up during the discussion with Adviser Iftekhar, and Pranab gave assurance that India has no intention of diverting her water at the Tipaimukh project.

When asked about Tata's investment and cooperation in the energy sector, the Indian external affairs minister said they did not discuss any individual investment project. He however said, "We discussed expanding economic cooperation and cooperation in various areas including energy."

Pranab Mukherjee, who arrived here yesterday morning, called for greater connectivity among the Saarc countries to be linked with East Asia and South-East Asia.

Replying to a question about transit, he told the reporters, "In fact that is one of the objectives of the Saarc summit and if we could establish the transit facilities among the Saarc countries going through Bangladesh, we will be able to connect with East Asia and South-East Asia, and through Afghanistan we shall have access to Central Asia and West Asia."

Pranab said he also had discussions with Bangladeshi leaders on early and full implementation of South Asian Free Trade Area (Safta). He said both sides have agreed on establishing the South Asian University as a centre for excellence.

He said India attaches the highest importance to its relations with Bangladesh and reiterated India's desire to strengthen and further enhance the friendly cooperative relations between India and Bangladesh.

He informed the newsmen that he met President Iajuddin Ahmed and extended an invitation letter from Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Bangladesh to participate in the 14th Saarc Summit.

He further said he had a detailed discussion with Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed who graciously agreed to attend the Saarc Summit.

The chief adviser will lead the Bangladesh delegation to the 14th Saarc Summit.

Pranab Mukherjee also met former prime ministers Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina before he left Dhaka in the afternoon.

Talks With Foreign Affairs Adviser

Earlier, at the foreign ministry-level talks in state guesthouse Padma, officials said Bangladesh and India discussed all outstanding issues of mutual interest including water sharing, trade imbalance and security concerns.

When asked about para-tariff and non-tariff barriers that block access of Bangladeshi products to the Indian market, Foreign Affairs Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury told the reporters that India had already declared withdrawal of non-tariff barriers to trade and will issue a notification to this effect. "It will be beneficial for all Saarc countries," he added.

Emerging out of the hour-long meeting with Pranab Mukherjee, Iftekhar said the Indian minister gave assurance that they will not divert the flow of water at Tipaimukh, so that Bangladesh is unaffected.

On Tata's investment, he said the company's proposal was not specifically discussed but Dhaka welcomed investment in general from India.

About security concerns, the foreign affairs adviser said, "Bangladesh reaffirmed its position that we will not allow any terrorist or insurgent group to use our soil."

He said the present caretaker government wants to strengthen the foundation of bilateral relations with India so the future government can build on that. He said both sides agreed to continue discussions on bilateral issues within a set framework.

Pranab Meets Khaleda, Hasina

Pranab Mukherjee yesterday hoped that democracy in Bangladesh will be strengthened and the reins of power will be handed over to elected representatives through holding an election as soon as possible.

"They want to see a strong democratic government in Bangladesh and at the same time they also want to see the caretaker government hold a free and fair election as early as possible," Awami League (AL) Presidium Member Kazi Zafarullah said about the Indian external affairs minister's position expressed during his discussion with AL President Sheikh Hasina at Sudha Sadan yesterday.

The Indian minister also met the immediate past prime minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in her Hawa Bhaban office at Banani, in the capital.

"As a democratic country India hopes that democracy in Bangladesh will continue and its foundation will become stronger, India also hopes that power will be handed over to elected representatives after holding an election as early as possible," Nazrul Islam Khan, joint secretary general of BNP, briefed newsmen after the meeting.

Nazrul said Pranab Mukherjee met Khaleda Zia to inform her about the affairs of the upcoming 14th Saarc summit as the regional organisation had received much international kudos during her tenure as the prime minister of Bangladesh, who had also been elected the chairperson of Saarc by its last summit held in Dhaka.

"The BNP chairperson and the Indian foreign minister discussed bilateral issues and expressed hope that the efforts will continue to further improve the relations between the two countries," Nazrul said.

Pranab Mukherjee conveyed the greetings of Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi to the BNP chairperson, and khaleda Zia also requested Pranab to convey her greetings to both the Indian leaders.

Briefing the newsmen, Sheikh Hasina's Political Secretary Saber Hossain Chowdhury said the two leaders discussed regional and bilateral issues. "Matters relating to Saarc, regional cooperation and security, terrorism, militancy, and poverty alleviation figured prominently in the discussion," Saber, also an AL organising secretary, said.

He said the two leaders discussed how the potential of Saarc could be used in poverty alleviation for faster change in the people's lifestyle.