Indian Foreign Secy in City
Consultations today
Nirupama RaoIndian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao arrived in Dhaka yesterday to review bilateral relations between the two countries and in the run up to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's proposed visit to Bangladesh later this year.
During her two-day visit, she will hold foreign secretary-level consultations between the two countries today when all aspects of bilateral relations as well as sub-regional issues will be discussed during the consultations.
Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes will lead the Bangladesh side.
The bilateral talks will focus on an agreement on the sharing of Teesta water, bilateral trade imbalance, demarcation of boundary, exchange of enclaves and adverse possession of territories and killing of Bangladeshi nationals along the border.
Nirupama will hold exclusive talks on bilateral issues as well as Manmohan's upcoming visit to Bangladesh with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today.
Diplomatic sources said she is carrying a special message from Manmohan and will subsequently carry message from here to New Delhi.
Foreign ministry officials said Nirupama's visit will provide the two sides with an opportunity to take stock of the progress of implementation of decisions taken during Bangladesh prime minister's visit to India in January last year, to chart out way forward and also to discuss issues to further expand the areas of bilateral, regional and sub-regional cooperation for the mutual benefits of the two friendly countries.
On the first day of her visit, the Indian foreign secretary held a meeting with Prime Minister's Economic Affairs Adviser Dr Mashiur Rahman and International Affairs Adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi.
She will call on Foreign Minister Dipu Moni today.
A Joint press conference on the foreign office consultations will be held today.
Nirupama will also attend a programme organised on the occasion of the consultations and as part of the joint celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore at National Museum in the city today.
Earlier, on arrival at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Nirupama was received by Foreign Ministry Director General (South Asia) Mashfee Binte Shams, Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Rajeet Mitter and other senior officials.
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