Former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday night met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and is understood of have discussed a gamut of bialteral issues.
The meeting between Hasina, who is on a visit to New Delhi, and Dr Singh lasted for about 45 minutes, official sources said.
A top aide of Hasina, who met Dr Singh, said ties between the two countries should not be made an issue in Bangladesh elections slated for early 2007.
Saber Hossain Chowdhury, political secretary to Hasina, said after the meeting that relations among neighbouring countries should not be a matter of domestic politics.
Chowdhury, a former cabinet minister under Hasina, said, "We appeal to BNP that India should not be made an issue in Bangladesh elections" and Dhaka should conduct its ties with New Delhi on the basis of its own national interests.
The entire gamut of bilateral relations and regional issues, including terrorism and connectivity among SAARC countries, came up for discussion at the meeting Hasina had with the prime minister.
Chowdhury said the two top leaders agreed that India and Bangladesh should try to find common ground where their national interests converge.
He said the prime minister and Hasina emphasised the importance of regional connectivity in view of growing role of regional economic groupings.
There is an element of trust in Awami League on these issues, Chowdhury said.
India has been pressing since long for multi-modal transport link with Bangladesh and transit to promote greater bilateral trade ties and easier access to its northeastern states.
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