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Dhaka for increased cooperation

Haroon Habib

DHAKA: Bangladesh expects increased Indian cooperation on key issues, particularly water sharing, the head of the caretaker Government, Fakhruddin Ahmed, said on Tuesday.

Dr. Ahmed, whose military-backed caretaker Government has just crossed five months in office, told the visiting Indian Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon, who called on him on Tuesday, that the meeting at the level of Foreign Secretaries should be held on a regular basis for stocktaking on bilateral relations.

He thanked the Government and the people of India for providing $10 million assistance for the victims of recent landslips in Chittagong. He conveyed his warm wishes to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and said he looked forward to meeting him.

“Bangladesh, as a matter of principle, does not allow its territory to be used by any force inimical to the interest of India,” remarked the caretaker chief during the talks. He said the spirit of cooperation could help resolve many issues and strengthen ties.

Dr. Ahmed welcomed the announcement Dr. Singh made during the 14th SAARC summit that India would allow duty-free access to the products of the LDCs (least developed countries) in the region, including Bangladesh, by December 2007.

Economic development and prosperity of the region were the common interest of both Bangladesh and India and the neighbours should work for mutual benefit.

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