Delhi, Dhaka giving final shape to

AGARTALA: Bangladesh and India are in the process of giving a final shape to the extradition treaty between the two countries, Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Md Mijarul Quayes said here today.

"For giving a final shape to the extradition treaty, the Foreign Ministry of the respective countries are now exchanging drafts for making a clean text of the treaty, after which the treaty is likely to be signed," Quayes said.

The two countries recently signed an 'Agreement of Return on Sentenced Persons' under which a sentenced person of the neighbouring country can return to his/her own country and serve the remaining period of the sentence in the jail of that country.

"The convict, if interested to return to his/her own country can return and spend the days of punishment in the jails there," Quayes told reporters.

Quayes said India has agreed to upgrade the Ashuganj river port on Meghna and decided to send a team there for feasibility test.

The port is just 42km from here and very useful for ferrying heavy goods from Kolkata by waterways economically.

On Chittagong sea port, he said it is open for use but connectivity problem between the countries was coming in the way of using it. "Move is on to address the problem."

Asked about Teesta water-sharing agreement, Quayes said "the Indian government had sought time to settle the issue. We are hopeful."