ELECTIONS '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ARCHIVES

Foreign secretary in Bangladesh to discuss bilateral issues

Foreign Secretary K Raghunath has flown to Bangladesh for high-level bilateral discussions, less than two weeks after Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited India to urge restraint following its nuclear tests in May.

"The visit is to carry on and renew our friendly contacts with Bangladesh," Raghunath told the media on landing at Dhaka airport on Sunday.

Hasina met with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in New Delhi on June 16 in the first visit of a head of government after its nuclear tests, which were later matched by Islamabad.

Raghunath, who was earlier high commissioner to Bangladesh, said his visit will give an opportunity to review and update the excellent relationship between the two countries.

The Indo-Bangladesh agenda is topped by a dispute over sharing of the Ganges river water.

For years, Bangladesh has protested what it calls inadequate supply of water from the river each summer. India says it needs the water to keep the Calcutta port navigable for ships.

The two countries are also expected to discuss the issue of Bangladeshi refugees living in India.

Both nations also have plans to co-operate in combating separatist violence. Rebels from both countries have often fled to the other side across the dense forests or rice paddy fields at the border.

Indian rebel leader Anup Chetia is currently awaiting trial in Bangladesh on charges of entering the country illegally. The trial puts on hold India's request that Chetia be extradited to face murder and kidnapping charges.

UNI

Tell us what you think of this report