A warm welcome awaits Indian President Pranab Mukherjee who flies into

Dhaka this noon on a three-day visit.

The visit is taking place at a time when both Bangladesh and India are consolidating their ties and trying to find breakthroughs in issues that have remained unresolved for decades, diplomatic sources said.

It coincides with a 60-hour nationwide hartal called by the Jamaat-e-Islami and its ally BNP in the 18-party opposition from early this morning. Massive violence broke out after a top leader of Jamaat, Delawar Hossain Sayedee, had been sentenced to death for his role in atrocities, including rape, killing, forceful conversion and persecution during the 1971 Liberation War. At least 43 people have been killed in the last three days in clashes between law enforcers and activists of Jamaat and its student body Islami Chhatra Shibir.

Ahead of the visit, Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai said Mukherjee's visit was not designed for political negotiations. During his stay, the Indian

president will convey to the Bangladesh leaderships his country's commitment to solving long-disputed issues and strengthening the bilateral relations.

"We have done a great deal of preparation for the visit. We feel it would be appropriate to carry on with the visit," Mathai said when he was told about the recent situation in Bangladesh.

Pranab Mukherjee will be the first Indian president to visit Bangladesh in nearly four decades as the neighbouring countries look forward to strengthening their ties. The last Indian president who visited Bangladesh was W Giri in 1974.

President Mukherjee will have talks with his Bangladesh counterpart Zillur Rahman, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Khaleda Zia. Besides, Speaker Abdul Hamid, Finance Minister AMA Muhith and Foreign Minister Dipu Moni will call on the Indian president.