Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj has told her Bangladesh counterpart that the Modi government was trying to reach a consensus on a water sharing formula for the Teesta River, so that a treaty could soon be signed.
Published : 26 Jun 2014, 04:18 PM
Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali told a media briefing on Thursday that Swaraj was hopeful about implementing the long-pending Land Boundary Agreement very soon.
Earlier in the day, the two foreign ministers met for the first time.
Ali said that Swaraj has requested him for a special economic zone for Indian investors.
Bangladesh has requested to ease the visa process, said the foreign minister.
He told reporters that Swaraj has agreed on issuing five-year multiple entry visa for Bangladeshi citizens over 65 years of age and under 13.
Her ministry had earlier planned to provide Bangladesh nationals of this age group visa-free entry but that was shot down by the Indian Home Ministry.
The foreign minister said that Swaraj has assured him that Nur Hossain, the prime suspect of Narayanganj multiple murders, would soon be extradited once a formal request was received.
The two also discussed over matters like security, trade, border issues and counter-terrorism.
After the meeting with Ali, the Indian foreign minister met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
She is also scheduled to meet President Abdul Hamid.
Swaraj arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday night.
It is the first visit by a minister of India’s new Narendra Modi-led government that came to power last month with overwhelming majority.