Hasina's visit to India 'will be a positive turn socio-economically'

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FE Report
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni has said the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to neighbouring India would be a socio economically positive turn, not only in bilateral terms but also for the South Asian region as a whole.
"The two countries would discuss and attempt to negotiate all the unresolved socio economic and political issues during the forthcoming visit of the Prime Minister, including terrorism that threatens the region", Dipu Moni told reporters Sunday.
She said this after inaugurating a two-day 'Bangladesh-India Dialogue' organised by Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) at a city hotel.
Terming the PM's visit to Delhi as "a moment of opportunity" for the two countries, the foreign minister reaffirmed that major differences on socio economic issues would be addressed during the visit.
The Prime Minister's visit comes at a time when the two-way trade balance between the two neighbours stands at $2.59 billion in favour of India, up from $968.71 million in the 2001-02 fiscal year.
Earlier, it has been reported that during the Prime Minister's visit, Bangladesh is likely to seek withdrawal of quantitative restriction from the duty-free entry of its apparels to the Indian market.
The business community also wants the issue of removing all para-tariff and non-tariff barriers on the access of Bangladeshi goods to the Indian market to be brought up during the meeting between Prime Minister Hasina and Indian Premier Manmohan Singh.
However, emphasising more on the terrorism issue, Dipu Moni said, "We would not allow the territory of Bangladesh to be used for conducting any terrorist activities against any country".
She also refused to make any comment on the recent capture of the ULFA leader Arabinda Rajkhowa from very near to India's border with Bangladesh, terming it a concern of the home ministry.
Foreign Secretary Mohamed Mijarul Quayes who was present on the occasion as the special guest said, "Structured discussion between the two countries can work to remove major differences which can be economically beneficial for both nations.
The Dialogue, which would be attended by security experts, academics, government functionaries and civil society members, would explore the security perspectives of India and Bangladesh with a special focus on terrorist threats faced by the two neighbouring countries, organisers said.
President of BEI Farooq Sobhan said in his speech, "Balanced economic ties between the two neighbours can add two per cent to the annual GDP growth of Bangladesh".
"Utilising the county's strategic location, Bangladesh can be the part of the momentous growth that is taking place in India as well as neighbouring South East Asia", he added.
President of Centre for International Affairs Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi M K Rasgotra also spoke on the occasion.