A two-day Foreign Secretary level talks between Bangladesh and India are due to begin in the Indian capital tomorrow.

The talks are likely to concentrate on a wide range of bilateral issues including land boundary demarcation, trade imbalance and establishment of multi modal communication links between the two countries, sources concerned said.

- Dhaka and Delhi arc also expected to touch upoi*R political, economic and security issues during the Foreign Secretary level talks being held after two and a halfyears.

Observers consider the talks very' crucial in shap ing the course of bilateral relations in the immediate future.

Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Shafi Sami will lead a 10-team member team at the meeting with his Indian counterpart Lalit Man Singh leading the

By M Anwarul Haq

other side. The Bangladesh team will Include Syed Maudud Ali. Director General of South Asia Desk In the Foreign Ministry, and High Commissioner to India Mustafa Faruk Muhammad.

Although the foreign secretaries will meet on an open-ended agenda. Dhaka will underscore the need for early completion of demarcation of some six arid a half km of land boundary as per the Mujib-aredfl^n 1974. UieTjf.urccs said.

Dhaka will also insist on taking effective measures to remove its serious trade imbalance with Delhi. It will reiterate that 25 categories of Bangladeshi items be given duty free access to Indian market, as agreed much earlier.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed while attending a seminar on Indo-Bangladesh Relations; The New Millenium’ In Calcutta last week articulated the From page 1 concern of the government and the private sector when he said. "India did not provide Bangladesh with preferential market access although it had agreed to provide duly free access lo market for 25 categories of items. He urged quick action from the Indian government in strengthening bilateral cooperation and pointed out that" Bangladesh Is getting quota facility from the US market, GSP for the markets of EU and Canada. "

The Commerce Minister also pointed out that trade Is continuously In India's favour. In 1993-94 Bangladesh reduced the highest Import tariff from 350 per cent to 60 per cent and withdrew quantitative restrictions and non-tariff barriers. As a result. Imports from India Increased manifold.

'This was not reciprocated by India." Tofail noted.

Delhi Is likely to call for productive discussions' on modalities for transhipment of Indian cargo through Bangladesh, par-

tlcularly to its north-eastern states.

On the issue of transit. It may lx? pointed out, Tofail Ahmed said at die same seminar that the proposed transit agreement with India has been delayed due to certain complexities and controversies. He said, "We want lo link Nepal and Bhutan with the proposed transit agreement. We are still walling for Indian response."

However, il Is learnt that the Delhi talks may take up the issue of a second bus route connecting Dhaka and Agartala shortly. Al present, there is Dhaka-Calcutla bus service.

ft also learnt that opening of Akhaura-Agartala rail link and Shilong-Sylhet road communication will be discussed.

ITeparations are almost complete for opening up train communication between the western part of Bangladesh and India’s eastern part through Benapole and Petrapole.

The Issues of cross-border smuggling, border trade, enhanced border security, mlnl-

mising BDR-BSF clashes and Insurgency will also come up at the talks.

The last foreign secretary level talks were held in June 1998 In Dhaka.

The talks, the first of tills kind in many years, led to revival of the moribund Joint Rivers Commission (JRC), Joint Working Group (JWG) and the JEC (Joint Economic Commission.) ft was then decided that such talks would be an annual feature.

Revival of foreign secretary' level talks In 1998 was intended to create an 'institutionalised platform' for policy action to initiate forward movement' in bilateral ties. Observers attributed this to Joint initiative of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the then Indian premier 1 K Gujral following conclusion of the waler treaty in December. 1996. At their behest, two meetings were held at Ihe foreign secretary level in 1996 although those were not In the present institutionalised format.

No meeting was held in 1997.