Foreign secretaries' meet

The foreign secretary level talks between Dhaka and Delhi have covered a lot of ground and positive signs are visible in quite a few areas. India has agreed to discuss its river-linking project with Bangladesh. The visiting Indian foreign secretary has also assured his counterpart of his country's assistance in setting up Bangladeshi trade missions in some northeastern India states. We welcome the talks aiming to further expand ties between the two neighbours and address the concerns that stand in the way of carrying forward bilateral cooperation to its fullest potential.

The understanding on FTA talks resumption is a forward-looking development. Bangladesh's concerns in this respect are well known, and we cannot emerge as an effective trade partner with India unless the latter withdraws the various non-tariff barriers in importing our products. The trade imbalance is a major obstacle that has to be reduced to ensure a mutually beneficial relationship. Rapid economic growth of Bangladesh will ultimately turn out to be an advantage for the neighbouring countries looking for stable and durable trade partners.

Bangladesh attaches importance to Indian security concerns including cross-border terrorism. A broad understanding exists between the two countries to fight the menace. Dhaka's stand on the issue is unequivocal.

However on a different plane, there are border shootings which leave many Bangladeshi citizens dead every year, that need to be stopped. This is an area that scarcely received the attention it deserved.

The regional atmospherics are now highly conducive to strengthening bilateral relations between any pair of countries in South Asia. India and Bangladesh can gain a lot from the situation since their task is to push ahead the plans that have been agreed to, particularly in the fields of water sharing, trade and commerce and cultural exchanges.