Dhaka hopes positive outcome from Zia's Delhi visit

Dhaka, Mar 15: Bangladesh views Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's state visit to India next week as a huge Confidence-Building Measure (CBM) designed to give a fillip to the bilateral ties between the two next-door neighbours through addressing all major issues.

Dhaka is expecting a positive outcome of the summit meeting between Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on March 21 that would look into each other's concern and ways of expanding trade and economic cooperation.

A Foreign Ministry official told sources that Foreign Secretary Hemayetuddin might fly to New Delhi on March 16 to meet his Indian counterpart Mr Shyam Saran for final consultations over the agenda of Khaleda-Manmohan summit.

The official said Prime Minister Khaleda Zia is going to New Delhi with ''positive mind'' and would hold talks with her Indian counterpart on bilateral issues ''free and frankly''.

Bangladesh hopes that the Khaleda-Manmohan summit would give positive directions in resolving the longstanding issues, like huge trade gap, quick accord on sharing the waters of common rivers, including the Teesta, and maintaining a peaceful border.

The official hoped that the Indian leadership would give precise assurances that New Delhi would not go for implementing any projects like river-linking or Tipaimukh barrage, which would be detrimental to Bangladesh's interests.

The official also hoped that India would quickly ratify the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement, and he stressed the need for demarcating the 6.5-km stretch of undemarcated boundary and exchanging enclaves.

Regarding Indian concern over anti-Indian insurgent camps within Bangladesh territories, he said ''these oft-repeated allegations never proved correct as no such camp could be located.'' ''If our law-enforcers could seize illegal weapons from inaccessible hilly areas in South-Eastern Bangladesh, why no such camp could be detected?'' an official posed the question, on condition of anonymity.

Bangladesh is committed not to allowing any insurgent group, whatsoever, to use Bangladeshi soil against any country.

''We want a peaceful border and situation has improved much following coordinated border patrolling,'' he said.

On over 1.5 billion dollar trade imbalance with India, the official said being a big economy India could take practical steps removing non-tariff and para-tariff barriers to allow more Bangladeshi goods duty-free to Indian market as a step to reduce this yawning gap.

About greater connectivity of road and railway, the official said these are the matters that may come up during the talks between the two Prime Ministers.

The official indicated that Dhaka may consider passenger train service from Shaildah in Kolkata and Gazipur in Bangladesh.

Besides, Dhaka may also agree on a new passenger bus route from Dhaka-Sylhet in Bangladesh and Shillong-Guwahati in India.

However, Dhaka might remain non-committal on the issue of an extradition treaty or tri-nation gas pipeline.

''Being a big country with big economy the onus lies with India.

India should show its greatness in addressing our concerns,'' official said.

''It has to be a win-win situation.'' The officials indicated that Dhaka and New Delhi would sign three agreements during the PM's visit on trade, avoidance of double taxation and investment protection.

Dhaka may also agree to explore the possibilities of negotiations on bilateral FTA through an interim 2-year agreement.

UNI