JOIN USBangla, India to review ties during Moni's visit tomorrow
On the eve of her 4-day visit, Moni said a "negative attitude" which earlier existed with regard to Dhaka-New Delhi ties has been removed as Bangladesh has now came out of an "old conservative outlook keeping itself aloof from regional or global engagements".
The comments were an apparent reference to the tenure of the BNP-led coalition when Bangladesh-India relations had witnessed its lowest ebb.
"We are tied with historic bondage and simultaneously there are some unsettled issues in bilateral relations," Moni, who will hold talks Moni's talks with her Indian counterpart S M Krishna among others, told PTI.
This is Moni's first official trip to the neighbouring country since the installation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League to power eight months ago following the historic December 29 general elections in Bangladesh.
Asked whether India's demand for extradition of ULFA leader Anup Chetia will figure during her discussions, she said, "we will discuss the security issues along with other issues".
Replying to a question on the long-standing Indian proposal for transit or transshipment, Moni said the connectivity issue would be discussion in the perspective of "South Asia and beyond".
Moni said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was expected to visit New Delhi by next one month, when the two neighbours ARE expected to sign several treaties on water, railway cooperation, trade deficit and harmonisation of product standards.
Moni's visit is likely to prepare ground for PM's tour.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, in his then capacity as External Affairs Minister, had held talks with Moni on February 9, when he visited Dhaka mainly to convey India's good wishes to the new government led by Awami League, widely regarded as a traditional ally of the Congress party.
Officials familiar with Moni's visit process said India was keen to "bridge differences with Bangladesh" on sensitive matters like Tipaimukh and move ahead on trade and transit.
Official sources said the two sides were likely to focus on enhancing connectivity and giving a fresh momentum to expanding economic engagement that would help in reducing "trust deficit" to resolve complex issues like border management, infiltration and illegal migration and terrorism.