Anti-terrorism task force issue may come up on Mukherjee's visit

Bilateral relationship between Bangladesh and India could be grown warmer in this time as both of the nations are keen to address many pending issues with due importance. Demarcation of sea line, militancy and terrorism in the region, repatriation of criminals and trade related issues could be in priority list, the people-concerned said.

They also said that setting up of a South Asian task force for addressing terrorism and militancy is the much talked about issue for the member countries of SAARC. This issue could be discussed between Dhaka and Delhi during the Indian foreign minister’s upcoming goodwill visit to the capital of Bangladesh.

The foreign office of Bangladesh government said that the country want to resolve issues pending with the friendly neighbours of the region as the nation believe in peace, prosperity and progress at regional and global level.

In view of enhancing bilateral relation, Foreign Minister of India Pranab Mukherjee is scheduled for a two-day goodwill visit to Dhaka from February 8, 2009. The foreign secretary of Bangladesh Touhid Hossain told the local press that the Indian high commissioner officially communicated him about the goodwill visit of Mukherjee.

On Sunday, Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty called on Touhid Hossain, the foreign secretary of Bangladesh at his office.

While talking to the press Chakravarty said Dhaka and Delhi will discuss the much talked about issue of setting up of a South Asian task force for addressing terrorism and militancy during the Indian foreign minister’s goodwill visit to the capital of Bangladesh.

Chakravarty told the newsmen that the regional anti-terror task force issue will come up for the discussion and I am sure that the prime minister here will raise the issue during the Indian minister’s visit.

Touhid Hossain said that Indian foreign minister will come to Dhaka to convey the good wishes of the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Commenting on the Awami League-led alliance’s election pledge of formation of an anti-terror task force, Indian High Commissioner said that his country was also working to set up such a task force. SAARC countries have separate conventions to face the menace of terrorism. These two countries have different forums and we can discuss task force issue in those forums, he added.

However, there should be a discussion before setting up of such a regional task force, he added further.

Meanwhile, Officials of the foreign ministry of Bangladesh said that as the Indian minister would be in the capital for two days, he would have a bilateral discussion with his Bangladeshi counterpart Dipu Moni, where the pending issues of reduction in trade gap, providing equal share of water in the Ganges and stopping of the killing of innocent Bangladeshis on the border areas might come up.