India, Bangladesh leaders meet to strengthen bilateral ties

Mon, 11 Jan 2010

New Delhi - Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed held talks with Indian leaders Monday which New Delhi said offered a "historic opportunity" to forge a "new and forward-looking relationship."Hasina arrived in New Delhi Sunday on her first official visit to India, during which five agreements including three to fight terrorism and cross-border crime were likely to be signed.

She met Monday morning with Indian President Pratibha Patil and External Affairs Minister SM Krishna. She was due to hold talks with Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh in the evening.

The leaders were security, terrorism, border-related issues, trade, investment and cooperation in infrastructure building, the Indian Foreign Office said.

"The visit of the prime minister of Bangladesh promises to be a path-breaking one and gives both countries a historic opportunity to build a new and forward-looking relationship," Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said.

Relations between the neighbors have acquired a new momentum after Hasina's Awami League government assumed power last year.

Delhi's relations with Dhaka had suffered under the previous regime of Khaleda Zia over several issues, including the alleged sheltering of rebel leaders active in India's north-eastern region.

Bangladeshi authorities in December cracked down on the rebels, including leaders of the United Liberation Front of Asom, and handed them over to Indian authorities.

The two governments were due to sign agreements on "mutual legal assistance in criminal matters," to combat international terrorism, and organized crime and drug trafficking.

Pacts on closer economic ties including sharing electricity and cultural ties were also on the agenda.

"We seek to revive those physical and emotional links which remain disrupted since independence. We also seek their understanding and cooperation on our security and connectivity needs," Rao said.

India has pledged to provide "substantial" economic assistance to Bangladesh, for trade, investment, railways and other transportation, she said.

Hasina also plans to visit a shrine to a revered Muslim Sufi saint in Ajmer, Rajasthan state, before returning to Dhaka on Wednesday.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/303045,india-bangladesh-leaders-meet-to-strengthen-bilateral-ties.html.