Dhaka, Delhi discuss common issues

Bangladesh and India discussed on Thursday various issues of common concerns, including the progress on the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) and Teesta water-sharing deal, reports UNB.
The long-pending issues came up for discussion when visiting State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam held a meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on the sidelines of the 35th meeting of the Saarc Foreign Ministers in the Bandos Island Resort in the Maldives.
The State Minister also held meetings with Maldives Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon and Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister Prof GL Peiris, according to a media release issued by the Foreign Ministry.
Mentioning that the Bangladesh nationals are facing difficulties in obtaining Indian visa, Shahriar requested the Indian government to ease the visa procedure for Bangladeshis.
He advised that they may consider issuing long-term visa for renowned businessmen of Bangladesh to ease the visa congestion.
The state minister also requested the Indian minister to expedite the process of importing 100 MW power through Tripura.
In his discussion with the Maldivian Foreign Minister, Shahriar Alam appreciated the government of the Maldives for hosting a large number of Bangladeshi expatriates and stressed the need for further acceleration of the existing cooperation between the two countries.
During his meeting with the External Affairs Minister from Sri Lanka, the state minister conveyed thanks to the government of Sri Lanka for expressing solidarity with the election process of Bangladesh and its commitment to work with the newly elected government.
Earlier, Maldives President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom formally inaugurated the 35th council. The council was convened more than two years after the last council held in the Maldives during the 17th Saarc Summit in November 2011.