Foreign secretary leaves for New Delhi

DHAKA, Bangladesh, July 16 (BSS)-Foreign Secretary Md. Touhid Hossain left here today for New Delhi to attend a two-day foreign
secretary-level meeting beginning there tomorrow.

He is visiting India at the invitation of Indian Foreign
Secretary Shivshankar Menon for Foreign Office Consultations
(FOC), where two sides will take stock of the entire gamut of
bilateral relations and explore the areas of possible
cooperation.

The last foreign secretary-level talks were held in Dhaka on
June 25-26 2007. After a gap of one year both sides will have the
opportunity to review the progress made since the last FOC.

Talking to newsmen yesterday, Touhid Hossain ruled out any
possibility of providing India with transit facility during the
July 17-18 official talks in New Delhi.

"No decision will be taken at this point of time," Touhid
said adding " Usually such a decision is not taken at this level.
It will take time. It needs scrutiny."

During the meeting in New Delhi, discussion will focus on
issues of bilateral interest in areas of security, border
management, and water resources, sharing of common river waters,
economy and trade, cooperation in agriculture and science and
technology.

Dhaka will press for removal of non-tariff and para-tariff
barriers so that Bangladesh can send more goods to India to
reduce the bilateral trade gap.

Director General South Asia, Mahbubuzzaman and Director
Foreign Secretary Office (FSO) Tarique Ahmed accompanied the
foreign secretary.