Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha arrives in Dhaka today to hold wide-ranging talks with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and Foreign Minister Morshed Khan. Mr Sinha is the first Indian dignitary to visit Bangladesh since Begum Zia wrested power from the pro-India Awami League Party in October. Analysts said the focus of the talks will be on economic issues such as the huge trade imbalance between the two countries, water-sharing, gas exports and trans-shipment of Indian goods through Bangladesh. Bangladesh's exports stand at only US$50 million (HK$389 million) against the official import of Indian goods worth about US$1.2 billion annually. Significantly, a high-powered government committee submitted a report to the Bangladesh government on Wednesday opposing gas exports to India until new gas reserves are found. Also high on the agenda is the demarcation of the India-Bangladesh border, particularly a highly contentious 6.5km stretch in the Meghalaya sector where 15 Indian border guards were killed in April last year, and the influx of Bangladeshis into India. Agreements for introducing passenger trains and steamer services between the two countries are also expected to be finalised. Mr Sinha is scheduled to lay wreaths at a memorial for those killed in the 1971 war fought by Bangladeshi nationalists against the Pakistani army with the help of India. He will call on Mr Morshed in the evening. Official talks between Mr Sinha and Begum Zia will be on the second day of the visit. He will also meet President Jamiruddin Sircar and opposition leader Sheikh Hasina Wajed. Describing Mr Sinha's visit as a goodwill trip, the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, said: 'The people and the government of India attach high importance to friendly and co-operative relations with Bangladesh. The basic objective of Minister Sinha's goodwill visit is to reaffirm India's abiding commitment to this valued relationship and to renew New Delhi's readiness to work with Dhaka.' Mr Sinha's trip to Dhaka is the last leg of a tour of South Asian capitals - except Islamabad. He has visited Colombo, Kabul and Kathmandu.
