Indian Minister Krishna's Upcoming Visit
Issues with India reviewed
Ahead of Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna's two-day visit to Dhaka from July 6, an inter-ministerial meeting yesterday reviewed the latest situation and progress of various issues in the areas of water sharing, power, security and land boundary demarcation.
Representatives from 19 ministries, including home, water resources, commerce, finance, power ministries, attended the meeting and reviewed entire range of bilateral issues, specially progress of implementation of the commitments stated in the joint communiqué issued during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to India in January last year.
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni presided over the meeting, which also identified problems, which are causing delay in implementation of the projects.
It reviewed the latest situation and progress in water sharing agreement on the Teesta river and land boundary issues, which includes demarcation of 6.5 km boundary, transfer of enclaves and adversely possessed territories, trade imbalance, security concerns, cooperation in countering terrorism, progress of various development projects to be implemented by $1 billion line of credit, construction of power grid line between India and Bangladesh etc.
Meeting sources said a number issues, those will be taken up during Krishna's visit were discussed and reviewed.
The meeting also discussed various problems, which are hindering implementation of various projects. Decision has been taken to place the problems identified yesterday's meeting before the Indian side at meetings with Indian external affairs minister.
Meeting sources said that the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's upcoming visit also came up for discussion.
Sources said Krishna's visit is likely to be followed by those of Indian Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram, Water Resources Minister Salman Khursheed and Indian Congress Party Chief Sonia Gandhi in the next two months.
The inter-ministerial meeting over, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni held an exclusive discussion with some important officials about the protests taking place in Tamabil areas in Sylhet over land boundary survey.
She inquired about the latest situation in the locality, reasons for protest, whether Bangladesh needs to handover its lands to India, situation of adversely possessed lands and enclaves and other aspects of survey.
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