India Doesn't Want Any Issue to Hinder Ties: Momen

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today said India doesn't want to take any move that could create an issue to crack the ongoing excellent 'golden chapter' of Bangladesh-India bilateral relations.

"They also don't want to see any incident that could make any kind of (crack) over Bangladesh-India's (golden chapter of) relation," he told media after the visiting Indian foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla calling on him at the Foreign Ministry, reports BSS.

The foreign minister said it was a courtesy meeting as Shringla discussed all bilateral issues with his Bangladesh counterpart Masud Bin Momen earlier this morning at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital.

Dr Momen said, in brief, they discussed a number of pending issues between Bangladesh and India, including border killing and water sharing.

"They gave us a formula to check unwanted incidents in the frontier," he added.

The foreign minister said Dhaka also urged India to expedite the process of holding the next Joint River Commission (JRC) meeting to resolve the water sharing issues between the two countries.

Dr Momen said they also discussed on how the ongoing 'golden chapter' of the relations between the two nations would be put forward in the days to come.

"We have to solidify this relation ... it is needed for welfare of the people of both the countries," he added.

Terming Bangladesh-India relations as sweet, Dr Momen said the two countries would like to elevate it further.

Meanwhile, a foreign ministry's press release said, during the meeting, foreign minister underscored that despite the goodwill and excellent relations between the two countries, the killing of Bangladesh nationals by the Indian border security forces continued to remain an irritant.

He requested the Indian foreign secretary to take up the matter with all the relevant agencies in India, said the release.

The Foreign Minister recalled that the two countries had resolved many of the outstanding issues in a spirit of understanding and expressed hope that all outstanding issues, including early signing of the Teesta water sharing agreement and equitable comprehensive water sharing agreement for other common rivers.

He stressed on promoting robust trade and commerce between the two countries for mutual benefit.

Dr Momen also requested the Indian side to take necessary measures in completing the "Swadhinota Sharak" connecting Mujibnagar to Kolkata as a symbol of friendship between the two countries, said the release.

Shringla arrived here this morning on a two-day official visit to discuss bilateral issues and also to help preparing the state visit of Indian President Ram Nath Kovind here from December 15-17.

The foreign minister said Indian Prime Minister joined the Bangladesh 50 years independence celebration in March last while the Indian President is scheduled to join the 50th Victory Day here on December 16.

"These visits made us honored," he said.

The Indian foreign secretary is scheduled to call on Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina tomorrow before leaving for New Delhi.