NEW DELHI, July 23 � The issue of delay in signing of the land boundary agreement, is likely to be raised India at the Foreign Secretary level discussion to be held here tomorrow.
Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between India and Bangladesh will be on Tuesday. The Indian side will be led by Foreign Secretary, Ranjan Mathai and the Bangladesh side will be led by Foreign Secretary Mohamed Mijarul Quayes.
At the FOC, the two sides will hold comprehensive discussions on the entire gamut of bilateral relations, including cooperation in political and security related matters, border management, counter-terrorism, trade and investment, water resources, power cooperation, including in renewable energy, connectivity, development cooperation and increasing people-to-people ties, official sources said.
Sources said that Bangladesh Foreign Secretary is likely to raise the issue of delay in signing of the land swap deal, which has become a subject of raging controversy in India. The deal has to be ratified by the Parliament before it can be formally signed. Given belligerent attitude of the Opposition, the Centre is learnt to have shoved the deal into the cold storage.
The forthcoming FOC would provide a useful opportunity to review progress in bilateral relations and further strengthen cooperation in a range of areas. During his visit, the Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh would call on the External Affairs Minister and the National Security Adviser, sources said.
Bangladesh is the largest trading partner within the SAARC region. The first meeting of the India-Bangladesh Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) was held in New Delhi in May at the level of Foreign Minister, where it was agreed that the bilateral engagement would be further intensified by holding FOCs annually. The last FOC was held in June 2011 in Dhaka.
