Menon meets Hasina; finalises details of Singh's visit

From Anisur Rahman
Dhaka, Aug 29 (PTI) National Security Adviser Shivshankar
Menon Monday met Bangladeshi Premier Sheikh Hasina and held
talks with officials, finalising details of the agreements to
be inked on trade, border, water and security during the
upcoming "historic" visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Hasina told Menon that the upcoming visit of Indian Prime
Minister to Bangladesh will add a new dimension to the
bilateral relations between the two neighbouring countries.
Commenting on Menon's meetings here Hasina's foreign
affairs adviser Gawher Rizvi said, "We have sorted out
everything related to the (Singh's) visit".
Menon told Hasina that Prime Minister Singh's visit from
September 6-7 is very important and historic.
Singh will be accompanied by five chief ministers,
including Mamata Banerjee of Paschim Banga, for the
first time during any visit to Bangladesh by any Indian PM.
Rizvi added that for the first time the Indian PM was
visiting Bangladesh with five chief ministers of neighboring
states accompanying him indicating that it would an historic
moment to "chart out the future directions" of the two
neighbours.
"We reviewed with Mr Menon the details of the agreements,
MoUs, protocols that are expected to be signed during the
meeting," Rizvi said, adding that the issues discussed
included connectivity, trade, power, border, water, security
and culture.
Menon also held discussions with Bangladesh premier's
economic affairs adviser Mashiur Rahman and met with editors
of the mainstream newspapers and news agencies before winding
up his two day tour. "It was an informal discussion when he (Menon) took stock
of our views on bilateral and regional issues ahead of Dr
Manmohan Singh's Dhaka visit," said an editor familiar with
the meeting told PTI.
Officials earlier said Menon arrived here yesterday to
review the progress of settlement process of bilateral issues
during the visit while his visit was also intended to expedite
the process.
An Indian high commission spokesman earlier said Menon
also discussed the progress on the draft of the deals with
Hasina's advisers and other officials concerned.
When Menon met Hasina, he hoped that the ties between
Bangladesh and India would strengthen, her press secretary
Abul Kalam Azad told reporters in a post-meet briefing.
They expressed their hope that the relationship between
the two countries would get "a fresh pace and dimension"
through Singh's "historic" visit, Azad was quoted as saying by
bdnews.
"The relationship between Bangladesh and India is
improving," Azad quoted Menon as saying.
Menon's visit came as Indian External Affairs Minister S
M Krishna and Home Minister P Chidambaram visited Dhaka in the
past one month ahead of Singh's tour when the two countries
were expected to witness signing of several agreements and
memorandums of understanding.
Bangladesh officials familiar with Menon's visit said he
was also expected to discuss security measures taken for the
Indian PM's visit and the agreements to be signed during the
visit.