New Delhi, May 22
India and Bangladesh are expected to hold Foreign Secretary-level talks in the first week of July to discuss several issues, including the border row, which recently caused tension between the two countries.
Sources said the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries would meet in New Delhi after about two years. Exact dates for the talks are being worked out.
The sources said the two sides would try to seek solution to the recurrence of problems on the border. Tension had recently erupted following the killing of a BSF officer by personnel of the Bangladesh Rifles.
Bangladesh has been opposing the erection of a fence by India 150m inside the border, claiming that it violates a 1975 bilateral agreement on not constructing “defensive” structures.
There have been several instances of firing by the BDR to oppose fencing within 150m. The government is keen to resolve the issue amicably.
External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh and his Bangladesh counterpart have met on a number of occasions on the sidelines of multi lateral conferences, including SAARC Ministerial Meeting in Islamabad, last year.
