India-B’desh agree for more meaningful level of relations

May 6,  2:8 PM A host of strategic bilateral issues, including extradition treaty, Teesta water treaty and boundary implementation agreement are expected to be high on the agenda in the first Indo-Bangla Joint Consultative Commission, JCC meeting to be held in New Delhi tomorrow. According to an official statement, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and his Bangladeshi counterpart Dipu Moni will co-chair the JCC meeting, which was formed under the framework agreement on development and cooperation signed during Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's visit to Dhaka in September last year. JCC, which was envisaged as an annual event at the level of foreign ministers, will also explore newer avenues for cooperation including progress of activities under the Framework Agreement, besides discussions on a wide range of issues, including water sharing, connectivity, border security and trade. The Commission is also expected to review the progress made in implementation of the accords signed during Sheikh Hasina's visit to New Delhi in 2010 and Dr. Singh's reciprocal visit to Bangladesh. AIR correspondent reports that India has been pushing for early signing of an extradition treaty that will facilitate bringing back of insurgents from north-eastern India holed up in Bangladesh. Later during the day, the Bangladesh Foreign Minister would be the Guest of Honour and participate on behalf of her government at the closing ceremony of the year-long joint celebrations of the 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore. Vice-President Hamid Ansari would be the Chief Guest at the ceremony to be held at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. (ALL INDIA RADIO)