Hasan-Jaishankar meet in Delhi today

Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud will sit with his Indian counterpart Dr S Jaishankar today (Wednesday) evening in New Delhi to discuss bilateral issues without any fixed agenda.

This is the Foreign Ministers maiden visit to India after taking charge of the Foreign Ministry, at the invitation of his Indian counterpart Dr S Jaishankar. He left Dhaka on Tuesday night.

Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud is also likely to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (the meeting schedule is yet to be decided) and will have separate meetings with the Indian Commerce Minister Piush Goyal and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval during his stay in New Delhi.

 "This tour is not at all a "structural one", but security and political issues will dominate the talks, security situation in Myanmar and its impact on Bangladesh, India and beyond….  anything could be discussed there from onion import to border killing to Tangail Saree," a senior official said.  

The Foreign Minister will also pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi at the iconic Rajghat.

 He will meet with the Foreign Media Correspondents in Delhi and likely to attend a seminar, too.

Spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Seheli Sabrin, said issues of mutual interest including trade, connectivity and energy cooperation, people-to-people contacts and regional cooperation will be discussed between the two sides at the bilateral meeting to further strengthen Bangladesh-India relations.

 She also said that the Teesta water-sharing issue is also likely to be discussed in the meeting, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson said.  "We expect the issue would be discussed."

"In the upcoming visit, there will be a comprehensive discussion on various issues existing between Bangladesh and India. We are also expecting discussion on the Teesta water sharing agreement," said the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson.
 
Meanwhile, India has said Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmuds first bilateral visit to New Delhi reflects the high importance and priority both countries attach to their bilateral relationship.

Hasan Mahmud left Dhaka on Tuesday night.  He will also visit West Bengal and is likely to meet with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Indian civil society and media  for his first bilateral meeting on Wednesday.

Though the Foreign Minister is going to New Delhi directly, he will return to Dhaka via Kolkata on Friday night (February 9), a senior official said.

 In Kolkata, he will attend a "meet the press" event and a reception, to be hosted by the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission.