PM flies to New Delhi Monday: security, trade, water likely on top of agenda in Khaleda-Manmohan talks

Dhaka, March 19 (BDNEWS) – Prime Minister Khaleda Zia leaves here Monday for New Delhi on a three-day state visit at the invitation of her Indian counterpart Dr Manmohan Singh.

"It is a goodwill visit. India is our important neighbour and Bangladesh attaches great importance to the relationship," Bangladesh's Foreign Secretary Hemayetuddin told a press briefing Sunday.

He said Dhaka is expecting the visit to be a successful one with a "positive outcome."

Finance and Planning Minister M Saifur Rahman, Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan and Foreign Affairs Adviser Reaz Rahman are accompanying the PM.

"The entire range of bilateral relations would be discussed between the two countries during the visit and the talks between the two Prime Ministers would add a new chapter to the bilateral relations of the two next-door neighbours," Hemayetuddin said.

Begum Zia will lead a 48-member official delegation, apart from a 40-member high-level business team.

In reply to a question, the foreign secretary said trade imbalance, sharing water of Teesta River and the urgency of signing a treaty to share Teesta waters, India's planned river-linking project and the Tipaimukh dam and security will top the agenda.

He hoped that the Indian leadership would give positive assurance that it would not go for implementing any projects like river-linking or Tipaimukh barrage, which would be detrimental to Bangladesh's interests.

Dhaka views Khaleda's visit to India as a huge confidence-building measure designed to give a fillip to the bilateral ties between the two next-door neighbours by addressing all major issues.

Despite, officials here had earlier indicated that Dhaka and New Delhi would sign three agreements during the visit on trade, avoidance of double taxation and investment protection, Hemayetuddin avoided a question on how many agreements would be signed.

According to the schedule, the Prime Minister will reach New Delhi at 6pm Monday. At the hotel, Indian External Affairs Minister E Ahamed and Loksabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee will call on the PM.

She would inaugurate the Bangladesh High Commission Complex in the evening.

On Tuesday, Khaleda Zia will be received formally at the Presidential Palace where her Indian counterpart Dr Manmohan Singh would be present. She will then go to Rajghat Mahatma Gandhi Memorial and place wreaths.

Begum Zia will then call on Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The formal talks between the two Prime Ministers would take place at the Hyderabad House Tuesday evening that would be preceded by a tete-e-tete between the two leaders.

The Indian PM will host a banquet in her honour.

The Prime Minister will also meet UPA leader and chief of Indian Congress party Sonia Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition, Indian Vice President, Commerce Minister and Information Minister separately.

New Delhi also arranged an interactive business session with Indian business leaders where the PM will attend.

She will return home Wednesday evening.

BDNEWS/2005 hrs