Bangla to improve bilateral ties with India: Advisor

Dhaka, Feb 1: Foreign Affairs Advisor Ifftekhar Ahmed Chowdhurytoday affirmed Bangladesh's willingness to further improve itsrelations with India, observing that the agreement with an Indiancompany to set up a power plant is a testimony to it.

The Bangladesh government yesterday signed a Tk 1,133 crore (OneUS dollar equivalent to Tk 69) agreement with Bharat Heavy ElectricLimited (BHEL) to build a 240-MW power plant in the country.

Briefing the media, Mr Chowdhury said Indian External AffairsMinister Pranab Mukherjee is likely to arrive in Dhaka in the middle ofthis month to invite Bangladesh to attend the 14th SAARC summit to beheld in New Delhi on April 3-4.

The Chief Advisor of the caretaker government, Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, will lead the Bangladesh delegation to the summit.

Mr Chowdhury said Bangladesh will establish diplomatic ties withMacedonia and San Marino while Spain is likely to open its mission inDhaka within the next six months.

Asked about diplomatic ties with Israel, he said the main reasonof the conflict in West Asia is Palestine and Bangladesh wants a quickresolution of the problem.

''Bangladesh has very well pronounced principled position onPalestine, and we shall do everything possible at the bilateral,national and international level to assist to resolve this issue'', hesaid.

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