Bangla considers offering port facilities to Indian states

Dhaka, Jan 11 (PTI) Bangladesh's new government led by Premier Sheikh Hasina has said it is considering offering port transit facilities to India's seven landlocked northeastern states.

"The matter of giving port transit to seven-sister states
of India as well as to China is under consideration of the
government," State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hasan Mahmud
told reporters in northeastern port city of Chittagong
Saturday night.

India has for long requested such a facility for its
northeastern states of Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura,
Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram and Sikkim.

"(But) the government will take any decision in this
regard after considering the country's interest and
sovereignty," Mahmud was quoted as saying by the private UNB
news agency.

He said the government would take steps on emergency
basis to resolve the maritime boundary issues with India and
Myanmar and on enhancing trade cooperation with eastern
countries.

About another Indian demand for return of United
Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) militants, he said a decision
on ULFA operatives in this country and Bangladeshi terrorists
arrested in India would be taken "on the basis of bilateral
discussion." PTI AR
AM
NNNN