Indian, Bangladeshi PMs rekindle ties

The prime ministers of India and Bangladesh meet in New Delhi to cement ties between the two south Asian neighbors and sign five cooperation pacts.

Dr. Manmohan Singh and his counterpart, Ms. Sheikh Hasina Wajed, met Monday to discuss bilateral relations, focusing on security, terrorism, border issues, trade and cooperation in infrastructure building.

India has described the visit by the Bangladeshi prime minister as “path-breaking.” In a significant step in that direction, New Delhi has announced transit links through India from Bangladesh to Nepal and Bhutan — a long-standing demand by all three smaller neighbors in order to facilitate easier trade.

Later, the two leaders witnessed the signing of five cooperation agreements relating to mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, transfer convicts, fight against terror, organized crime and illegal drug trafficking, power cooperation, as well as cultural exchange programs.

In a series of high-level meetings, Ms. Hasina, on her first official visit, assured New Delhi on the first day of her 4-day official visit, that Dhaka would not allow its soil to be used as a base for operations by groups hostile to India.

Ms. Hasina began her official engagements by laying a wreath at Rajghat, sepulcher of father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi. Later, she called on President Pratibha Patil and also met United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson and Congress president Sonia Gandhi.