NEW DELHI. I>« 1 I Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. on the act-ond day of her three day of flclal visit to India today. held meetings with several Indian leaders including Minister for External Affairs i K Gujral al tier suite at the Raatrapatl Bha ban reporta BSS

Welcoming the Bangladesh Prime Minister Gujral ex pressed the tiope that the Indo Bangladesh relationship would continue to Improve particularly in the economic field

Gujral suggested some cor reitive measures including tar iff decrease for Bangladesh items to narrow the existing trade gap between the two coun tries.

Gujral said India wants to a economic cooDeraUon

SAARC countrim and

hopes SAPTA will be more ef

Expressing her deep concern for the economic plight of the people of this region. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, we can only improve the situation through strengthening economic cooperation amongst ourselves.

Sheikh Hasina paid a courtesy call on Indian Vice Presi dent K R Narayanan and also met with Sonia Gandhi, widow of late assassinated premier Ra-

jiv Gandhi, at her 10 J ana path residence

The President of Congress*!). Sitaram Keari during hla meet awl th Hasina expressed sat

tion over the Indo Bangla t tlationst) i p.

Kesri recalled with emotion the historic Liberation War of Bangladesh in which India ex tended help and support He also recalled the role ol former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi in Bangladesh's libera Uon struggle

Sheikn Hasina acknowledged with gratitude India s help in her country a Liberation War and said "we also remember the leadership of Mrs Indira Gandhi."

General Secretary of Congress (I) Golam Nabi Azad was present during the meeting.

Former foreign minister of India Pranab Mukherjee. Speaker of the Lok Sabha P A Sang-ma and Vice Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha Dr Nazma Heptullah called on Sheikh Hasina at the Rashtrapatl Bha-

The Leader of the Opposition in Indian Parliament Atal Bihar! Bajpayee later called on Hasina. They exchanged pleasantries and discussed various issues.