Hasina wants direct train service with India

Visiting Indian State Minister for External Affairs Ajit Kumar Panja yesterday said a joint expert group meeting between Bangladesh and India will be held in Dhaka next week to discuss existing problems between the two countries, reports UNB.

He said Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had directed to identify all existing bilateral problems and take effective steps for their solutions, Panja said.

Panja who arrived here yesterday stated this when he called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence at Ganobhaban.

He conveyed Vajpayee's greetings to the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister discussed various issues with the Indian State Minister. Referring to the Dhaka-Calcutta bus service introduced last year, she stressed the need for direct train service between the two countries.

Principal secretary to the Prime Minister Dr S A Samad, Foreign Secretary C M Safi Sami, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dev Mukharjee and Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Mostafa Faruque were present.

Panja also called on Foreign Minister Abdus Samad Azad at the State Guest House Padma in the afternoon.

They discussed matters relating to mutual interest with special emphasis on cultural and economic issues.