Pranab Mukherjee to visit Bangladesh today

NEW DELHI: Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is scheduled to reach Bangladesh on Saturday afternoon with a billion-dollar credit package under which funds will be made available to the neighbouring country for development of communications and other infrastructure facilities.

Mukherjee will also call on Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni and Finance Minister AMA Munith during his four-hour visit.

"The Finance Minister will review the implementation of agreements reached between the two countries earlier," said official sources.

The credit will be provided for development of a range of projects in communication, railway, and dredging in major rivers.

Earlier in January, during the prime ministerial level talks between Sheikh Hasina and Dr Manmohan Singh, India had agreed to provide $1 billion line of credit to Bangladesh for a range of projects.

Mukherjee is expected to review Indo-Bangla ties as well as decisions taken during the prime ministerial level talks held in January.

The finance minister's visit assumes significance, as this would be the first visit by a senior Indian leader after Hasina's visit.