Dhaka to host India-Bangladesh secretary-level talks on June 25-26

Top officials from Bangladesh and India are expected to iron out a host of issues of bilateral interest at the upcoming secretary-level talks, scheduled to begin here on June 25.

By Nazrul Islam

Dhaka, May 31 : Top officials from Bangladesh and India are expected to iron out a host of issues of bilateral interest at the upcoming secretary-level talks, scheduled to begin here on June 25.

Bangladesh Foreign Secretary in-charge Md Touhid Hossain and Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon will lead their respective sides at the talks, which is taking place after a recess of two years.

"The entire issues of our bilateral relationship will be discussed at the meeting," the Bangladesh secretary in charge told reporters.

The issues to be discussed include security, peaceful border management, cross-border illegal movement, cooperation in water resources, economic and trade cooperation, and consular and cultural exchanges.

The meeting will also review the progress of the decisions taken at the previous meeting held in New Delhi on June 21-22, 2005.

At the last meeting, both the sides had reaffirmed their commitment not to allow their territory to be used for any activities detrimental to the interests of the two countries.

The Bangladeshi side had agreed to examine the Indian proposal for coordinated patrolling of the river boundary, where feasible.

A high-level meeting was sought by the Indian side to resolve the matters related to illegal cross-border movement and activities. It also reiterated its plan to fence off the international border within and up to 150 yards. The work on border fencing was nearly completed. Bangladesh stressed for conforming to the 1975 border guidelines.

ANI