<p>New Delhi: Bangladesh's perceived growing proximity with Pakistan and China, and implications of India's strained ties with its eastern neighbour were discussed at a parliamentary committee meeting on Friday amid suggestions by some experts on engagement with the country, sources said.</p>.<p>Former foreign secretary and ex-National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon, Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain, former High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das and well-known academician Amitabh Mattoo appeared as experts and "gave us very good insights and excellent ideas," Standing Committee on External Affairs Chairman Shashi Tharoor said.</p>.<p>In reply to a question about infiltration from Bangladesh, he said one figure that has come up before the committee suggests that its number has gone down.</p>.India imposes restrictions on import of jute, allied fibre products from Bangladesh.<p>An MP said some members flagged concerns about the strain in ties with Bangladesh under the interim government of Muhammad Yunus after Sheikh Hasina was deposed last year.</p>.<p>An expert said despite concerns about radicalisation of youths in the country, its army is not extremist like Pakistan's.</p>.<p>That China is getting a foothold in the country which is strategically important for India was another issue for some MPs of the panel, sources said, noting that Pakistan is also trying to strengthen its ties with Bangladesh.</p>.<p>BJP MP Kiran Choudhry, sources said, recalled India's role in liberating Bangladesh, noting that her father Brigadier Atma Singh of 17 Kumaon Regiment had played a heroic role in the 1971 war and had suffered bullet injuries. Singh was called the "founding father" of the regiment and his unit battle honours.</p>.<p>An MP asked if South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation can be revived to counter Chinese bid to grow its influence in the region and also floated the idea of exchange of journalists to boost people to people engagement with Bangladesh.</p>.<p>The law-maker flagged the implications of India-Bangladesh ties on West Bengal, which shares a long border with the country and has been at the received end of suspected large-scale infiltration. </p>
<p>New Delhi: Bangladesh's perceived growing proximity with Pakistan and China, and implications of India's strained ties with its eastern neighbour were discussed at a parliamentary committee meeting on Friday amid suggestions by some experts on engagement with the country, sources said.</p>.<p>Former foreign secretary and ex-National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon, Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain, former High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das and well-known academician Amitabh Mattoo appeared as experts and "gave us very good insights and excellent ideas," Standing Committee on External Affairs Chairman Shashi Tharoor said.</p>.<p>In reply to a question about infiltration from Bangladesh, he said one figure that has come up before the committee suggests that its number has gone down.</p>.India imposes restrictions on import of jute, allied fibre products from Bangladesh.<p>An MP said some members flagged concerns about the strain in ties with Bangladesh under the interim government of Muhammad Yunus after Sheikh Hasina was deposed last year.</p>.<p>An expert said despite concerns about radicalisation of youths in the country, its army is not extremist like Pakistan's.</p>.<p>That China is getting a foothold in the country which is strategically important for India was another issue for some MPs of the panel, sources said, noting that Pakistan is also trying to strengthen its ties with Bangladesh.</p>.<p>BJP MP Kiran Choudhry, sources said, recalled India's role in liberating Bangladesh, noting that her father Brigadier Atma Singh of 17 Kumaon Regiment had played a heroic role in the 1971 war and had suffered bullet injuries. Singh was called the "founding father" of the regiment and his unit battle honours.</p>.<p>An MP asked if South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation can be revived to counter Chinese bid to grow its influence in the region and also floated the idea of exchange of journalists to boost people to people engagement with Bangladesh.</p>.<p>The law-maker flagged the implications of India-Bangladesh ties on West Bengal, which shares a long border with the country and has been at the received end of suspected large-scale infiltration. </p>