'Solve problems without external intervention'

Dhaka, June 27: India today hoped the Bangladeshi people and political parties resolve outstanding issues through dialogue, rather than through external intervention or pressure.

'' I wish to reiterate that India fully respects Bangladesh's independence and sovereignty. A peaceful, stable, democratic, secular and prosperous Bangladesh is in India's own national interest,''Indian Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon said.

Delivering a lecture on '' Creating a South Asian Community; India-Bangladesh Relations'' at the Business Enterprise Institute, he said India attaches utmost importance to strengthening friendly and cooperative ties with Bangladesh.

'' Better relations between India and Bangladesh are integral to a South Asian community. After all it was Bangladesh's vision which put forward the idea of SAARC,'' he added.

Menon said it is natural for close neighbours to have problems as he said intimacy is not always easy.

He said during the foreign office consultations and in meetings with Bangladeshi leaders, they tried to see mutually satisfactory solutions or ways forward together.

'' We have discussed issues such as security, our land boundary, the rivers that join us and other emotive issues. We have also looked at the complementarities that create our opportunity,'' Mr Menon said.

About bilateral trade, Menon said over 80 per cent of the bilateral trade is currently routed through Benapole-Petropole.

He said the two countries will be able to diversify, opening additional routes and Land Customs Stations. He hoped the Kolkata-Dhaka passenger train can commence operations soon to become the precursor for a comprehensive network of bus, train and ferry links.

Mr Menon said India is willing to improve air connectivity by establishing daily air services to metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kolkata, and to 18 other destinations across India.

'' Better connectivity can include linking national power grids, gas pipelines, and telecommunications, to overcome shortages in certain areas and create synergy,''he noted.

Menon said India is prepared to work with friends in Bangladesh to take the bilateral relations to an "irreversible higher trajectory" and to strengthen cooperation in all spheres.

'' We look forward to identifying solutions to outstanding issues through friendly negotiations and to ensure that the people of both the countries can enjoy the fruits of vigorous interaction and buoyant linkages,'' Mr Menon said.

UNI