Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's two-day visit to Bangladesh will bring short and long term benefits for the two countries, Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes said yesterday.

He said the 10 deals signed during the visit were highly important and implementation of those will bring mutual benefits.

Mijarul mentioned the agreements on exchange of enclaves and adversely possessed lands, demarcation of 6.5 km border and 24-hour access of Bangladeshis through Tin Bigha corridor.

Teesta water sharing

agreement could not be inked as India was not prepared, he said.

"But they (India) are committed to sign the agreement and we are hopeful of an agreement within next few months," the foreign secretary said adding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina hoped it would be signed in next three months.

He said the Teesta deal will be signed on the basis of equity, and the terms and

conditions for the agreement will remain unchanged. "We are not going to discover any new formula," he added.

When asked why the letter of exchange on transit and port facilities to India was not signed, the foreign secretary said it needed more work.

He said there were a total of 18 specific matters up for signing as agree-ments/protocols or Memorandum of Understandings, but finally

10 deals were inked, and remaining will be done later.

The foreign secretary said signing of the comprehensive "Framework Agreement on Cooperation for Development" is a historic instrument that outlines the shared vision for long-term cooperation.

Besides, duty-free access of 46 Bangladesh textile items to Indian is a great achievement, he said.