Bangladesh PM arrives in India to enhance bilateral ties

Begum Khaleda Zia, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh has arrived in New Delhi for a three days visit what is being termed a 'landmark' visit. The visit is likely to inject much-needed vigor into bilateral ties and address sensitive issues like terrorism, trade and the persisting trust deficit between the neighbours. It is hoped her trip here would create conditions for "perceptible improvement" in the content of bilateral ties and usher in a "new phase" in friendship and cooperation. The two countries are likely to sign three pacts during the visit, including Double Tax Avoidance Agreement and Investment Protection Agreement while discussing ways to enhance trade cooperation. Zia's visit is the first by a Bangladeshi Prime Minister in nine years and will concentrate on confidence building

Zia, accompanied by Foreign Minister Morshed Khan and Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman and a 40-strong business delegation, was received at the Indira Gandhi International Airport by Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed.

During the talks between Zia and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday, First on the agenda is a firm yet persuasive message by Delhi that only action on terror networks operating in Bangladesh can improve relations. During my visit, I look forward to very candid and constructive discussions with our friends in India," she said in a statement issued on her arrival here on her first visit as Prime Minister. "I hope that as a result of our discussions it would be possible for us to create conditions for perceptible improvement in the content of our cooperative relations," said Zia.

Many touch issues will be taken up during this remarkable visit. Delhi wants Dhaka to prevent the illegal migration of hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshis. Dhaka says Delhi must first stop fencing parts of the 4,000 km-long border. Delhi wants to offer Dhaka three economic pacts and wants transit rights via Bangladesh, but first Dhaka wants India to address the yawning billion trade gap and non-tariff barriers. Discussions under the 1996 Ganga Water Treaty are also expected as the rivers are running low this season. Dhaka wants reassurances that India river-linking plans will not affect Bangladesh.

Dr Singh and Zia had last met in Dhaka in November last year on the sidelines of the 13th SAARC Summit after which the Indian prime minister had said that Bangladesh had indicated 'some positive steps' on curbing North East insurgent camps on its soil.
Zia will be given a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday morning. She will meet President APJ Abdul Kalam, Sonia Gandhi, Commerce Minister Kamal Nath before talks with Manmohan Singh at Hyderabad House on Tuesday evening.