Sushma Swaraj likely to visit Bangladesh this month

NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is likely to visit Bangladesh this month-end in her what could be her first stand-alone bilateral visit to a South Asian country since assuming charge.

While dates of Swaraj's visit are yet to be finalized, indications are that she will go to Dhaka this month.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesman said the Minister is going to a neighbouring country this month but did not specify the country and the dates.

Asked if Bhutan will be the first outside visit for the External Affairs Minister as well apart from that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Spokesman said "I can confirm that both the Prime Minister of India and the External Affairs Minister of India will have their first visits to neighbours and both these are in June".

"If you would like to know whether the External Affairs Minister independently would be going to another neighbour, my answer would be yes", he said adding "this will indicate to you that the neighbourhood is India's priority. We will let you know those when, because it is not before the visit of the Prime Minister to Bhutan.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister A H Mahmood Ali had written a letter to Swaraj soon after she was sworn in as External Affairs Minister on May 26, felicitating her and inviting her to visit Bangladesh.