Foreign Minister in New Delhi, talks with Jaishankar today

Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud and his Indian counterpart Dr S Jaishankar are scheduled to hold a meeting as Hasan begins his first bilateral visit to India.

Hasan landed in New Delhi a little before 1 am on a three-day official visit.

Md. Mustafizur Rahman, Bangladesh High Commissioner to India, and Smita Pant, Ambassador designate of India to Uzbekistan received the Foreign Minister at the airport in New Delhi.

India has said Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr Hasan‍‍`s first bilateral visit to New Delhi reflects the high importance and priority both countries attach to their relationship.

During the visit, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Foreign Minister Hasan will hold talks, in which both leaders will review the progress in wide-ranging areas of bilateral relations and chart out the agenda for future engagement.

They will also exchange views on sub-regional, regional and multilateral issues of common interest.

This is Hasan’s first bilateral visit abroad as Foreign Minister.

The foreign minister is likely to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and have a separate meeting with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal during his stay in New Delhi.

Since the Foreign Minister will have a meeting with India‍‍`s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, the current security situation in Myanmar is likely to be discussed in the context of regional issues, said a diplomatic source.

The foreign minister will also pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi at the iconic Rajghat. He is likely to attend a seminar, too.

Earlier, Spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Seheli Sabrin, said issues of mutual interest including trade, connectivity and energy cooperation, people-to-people contacts and regional cooperation will be discussed between the two sides at the bilateral meeting to further strengthen Bangladesh-India relations.

Asked whether the Teesta water-sharing issue will be discussed in the meeting, the foreign ministry spokesperson said they expect the issue would be discussed.