Bangla-India foreign secretary-level talks in mid-July

DHAKA: Foreign secretaries of India and Bangladesh are set to hold talks in New Delhi next month during which bilateral issues like trade, sharing of Ganges water and security co-operation are expected to come up.

Foreign ministry officials here said the meeting will review progress of agreements reached in the previous meeting between top bureaucrats of the two countries here in June 2006.

Bangladesh is likely to ask India to remove trade barriers, especially non-tariff and para-tariff, for reducing a huge trade gap that is now tilted towards New Delhi, a foreign ministry official said.

It may also raise the issue of procurement of water from the Ganges in line with a 30-year agreement signed in 1996, the official said.

Besides, issues relating to security, border management, prevention of cross-border illegal movement, cooperation in management of water resources, economic, consular and cultural exchanges are also expected to dominate the talks.

During the previous meeting in Dhaka, the two sides agreed to enhance security cooperation, especially information sharing to combat terrorism, crimes and insurgency in the common interest of peace and security.

The meeting also decided to hold meetings of the Joint Rivers Commission and take initiatives to quickly resolve the problems regarding the demarcation of 6.5 km land boundary.

The issues of water management and border demarcation are yet to be settled though the two countries took into account the recommendations put forward by experts.

The two countries also differ on issues like exchange of enclaves and land in adverse possession, allegations and counter-allegations of harbouring terrorist elements and demarcation of the maritime boundary.