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Dhaka hopes boost in ties as Natwar arrives today

Rezaul Karim
Indian External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh arrives today on a three-day visit at the invitation of his Bangladeshi counterpart to discuss an entire range of bilateral issues to strengthen relations between the next-door neighbours.
Bangladesh pins high hopes on today's scheduled talks between Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan and Singh in finding a common ground for resolving the outstanding bilateral issues, some of which date back to the partition of the subcontinent.
This is the first visit by an Indian minister after the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government came to power in May 2004.
However, Morshed had earlier visited India twice -- in May-June and in November, 2004. Besides, Finance and Planning Minister M Saifur Rahman and Commerce Minister Altaf Hossain Choudhury had visited the neighbouring country during last one year.
The foreign secretary-level consultations held in New Delhi on June 21-22 led to activating bilateral mechanisms to enhance cooperation in sectors like security, border management, sharing of common river waters and economic ties.
Highly placed sources said security, bilateral trade, border management, water sharing and UN reform issues will dominate the agenda at the meetings between the Indian minister and Bangladesh leaders.
Singh, who arrives at 10:00am by an Indian Airlines plane, will first hold official talks with Morshed at the state guesthouse Meghna starting at 12:45pm.
High officials from different ministries of both the countries will assist their respective leaders at the talks.
Morshed and Singh will hold a joint press conference after the meeting .
Singh will meet Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman and LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan in the afternoon.
Singh will pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister Khaleda Zia at her office in the afternoon.
He will meet Leader of the Opposition and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina. He will also give a speech on Indo-Bangladesh ties at the Brac Centre.
Earlier in the morning, he is expected to visit the Liberation War Museum in the city.
Morshed will host a banquet in honour of the Indian external affairs minister at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Centre tonight.
Morshed also hosts a private lunch in the visiting Indian minister's honour tomorrow at his residence.
On the concluding day of his tour, Singh is due to visit Ramkrishna Mission in Old Dhaka and leave by a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight at 11:00am on Monday.
"It's a goodwill visit by the external affairs minister of India. We'll exchange ideas on all existing issues apart from discussing potential areas of cooperation," Morshed told reporters yesterday.
"We'll not only discuss the disputed issues but also the positive and complimentary issues like how we can cooperate with each other and move forward,"he added.
Dhaka is committed to strong bilateral relations with India, he said, adding that Bangladesh and India must remain closely engaged and work together in a fast-changing world.
The minister said both countries should be sensitive to each other's concerns and initiate practical steps to address those.
Asked about major issues that might come up during the official talks with Singh, Morshed said trade imbalance, para-tariff and non-tariff barriers, border and water management, human trafficking and drug smuggling, among other issues, may be on top of agenda.
"We feel that the visit is going to be very important. It's a forward-looking development in our continued efforts to strengthen existing friendly ties," Foreign Secretary Hemayetuddin told reporters on Thursday.
"We expect that the discussion will take place with a constructive and positive frame of mind and substantial progress will be made in resolving outstanding issues," he added.
Indian side said India has a broad-based agenda with Bangladesh and it is not a one-issue visit by Singh.
India will use Singh's visit to persuade Bangladesh to support the G4 resolution for expanding the UN Security Council. The G4 nations comprising India, Japan, Brazil and Germany are seeking permanent seats in the council.
Singh will also try to resolve the difficulties in the Myanmar-Bangladesh-India pipeline project during his visit.
Additionally, there will be an exchange of views on international and regional issues of mutual interest including the 13th Saarc Summit in Dhaka slated for November 12-13.
Other bilateral matters encompassing trade, investment, tourism and business activities as well as cultural, educational and other matters of mutual interest will also be discussed.
Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna told reporters at a briefing in New Delhi, "We have a broad-based agenda with Bangladesh. It is not a one-issue visit. We have a close interaction with Bangladesh at various levels."
"His (Singh's) visit takes place in the context of our commitment to improve and strengthen our relations with neighbouring countries and will provide an opportunity to review and assess all aspects of the bilateral relationship," he added.
It will also be an occasion for high-level political interaction between the two countries and will be a precursor to the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the Saarc summit, he added.
Sarna said, "I can say that India attaches the highest importance to relations with Bangladesh which are marked by warmth and cordiality.
"The common cultural heritage, shared historical bonds, the extended common border and common perceptions on a number of issues make the relationship multi-faceted, dynamic and extremely important.
"We are committed to following a policy of friendship, trust and understanding which will lead to mutual benefit of the people of both countries."
Sources said the Indian prime minister is sending his external affairs minister to Dhaka to assure the Bangladesh government of New Delhi's sincerity about improving bilateral ties and India's seriousness about having strong relations with whichever party comes to power in Bangladesh.
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