Azad concerned over Indian fence plan

Foreign Minister Abdus Samad Azad has again regretted the Indian move to erect barbed-wire fence along its border with Bangladesh, reports agencies.

"We have always maintained that such an unilateral decision on the part of India to erect barbed-wire fence along Bangladesh border will have negative impact on the relations between the two countries," said Foreign Minister yesterday.

In a statement at the regular press briefing, he said that no confirmation on the construction of barbed-wire fence had so far been received from the country's mission in New Delhi.

Turning to the forthcoming NAM summit in Dhaka, Azad said that China will provide 24 million US dollar as loan to Bangladesh for the construction of an international standard conference centre in Dhaka.

The conference centre will be needed to hold the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit due to be held here in 2001. The site of the conference centre has not yet been finalised.

Briefing newsmen at the foreign office in the afternoon, Azad said an agreement on the proposed aid would be signed when he visits Beijing on January 20 at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart.

He said the government would have to arrange additional accommodation of 2,000 people expected to take part in the NAM conference. The existing hotel facilities can provide accommodation for 2,000 people.

About restriction on Umrah visa, Azad said the Saudi authorities have offered to give such visas in group instead of single Umrah visa next year.

He said Sheikh Hasina will pay a two-day visit to the Indian state of West Bengal on January 27-28 to inaugurate a book fair in Calcutta and receive the honorary D Lit from Bishwa Bharati University.

The Prime Minister will also visit the birth place of rebel poet Kazi Nazrul Islam at Churulia in Burdwan district and the Baker Hostel, where Bangabandhu Mujib used reside as a student of Islamia College.

Foreign Secretary M Mustafizur Rahman was present at the weekly briefing.