Dhaka pins high hope on Natwar's visit

Bangladesh is expecting to dissolve the irritants with India and settle bilateral issues during Indian External Minister K Natwar Singh's three-day visit to Dhaka beginning tomorrow.

Official sources said Dhaka is eagerly waiting to welcome Singh and considering the visit an important move to strengthen relations between the neighbours.

Singh during his visit will hold official talks with his counterpart M Morshed Khan.

He is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman and LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan.

Singh will also call on Leader of the Opposition and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina and visit the Liberation War Museum and Ramkrishna Mission in Dhaka.

The Indian minister is expected to discuss an entire range of bilateral relations and issues in the interests of the region.

"We believe the visit is going to a be very important one. We'll hold meetings with the Indian delegation in a very constructive and positive mind and hope the same from their part," Foreign Secretary Hemayetuddin told reporters yesterday.

He however said there is no formal agenda for official talks between the two sides headed by Morshed and Singh.

"Anything can be discussed by the two foreign ministers. But Bangladesh will try to address the large trade gap between the two countries, removal of trade barriers, sharing water of the common rivers and ensuring a peaceful border," he added.

The foreign secretary said the two sides will sign a cultural exchange programme between Bangladesh and India.

He said there has been some good development since the June 21-22 foreign secretary-level consultations between the two countries. The visit of Singh will contribute significantly to further improve bilateral ties.

Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran and other senior officials from different ministries will accompany Singh.

Hemayetuddin said Indian Water Resources Minister Priya Ranjan Das Munshi would come to Dhaka by the end of this month for the Joint Rivers Commission meeting.

Besides, Indian Commerce Minister Kamal Nath is expected to visit Bangladesh in October.

Meantime, Navtej Sarna, official spokesperson of the Indian external affairs ministry, at a press briefing in New Delhi yesterday said Singh's visit takes place in the context of India's commitment to strengthen bilateral relations with Bangladesh.

"I can say that India attaches the highest importance to relations with Bangladesh which are marked by warmth and cordiality," he told reporters.

The visit would be an occasion for high-level political interaction between Dhaka and Delhi and a precursor to the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the 13th Saarc Summit scheduled to be held in Dhaka in November.

Our New Delhi correspondent adds: Sing yesterday said in Rajya Sabha he would take up any matter with Bangladesh during his visit to Dhaka.

Responding to a question relating to Indo-Bangla border fencing, the minister said he will raise "any item" that is necessary.

"I will address at the highest quarter if any matter has to be attended to," he said.