Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

(a) the details of the bilateral discussions India had with Bangladesh during the last three years and the current year;

(b) the major issues which came up for discussion during the meetings;

(c) whether the Government plans to have more rounds of discussions with Bangladesh on various outstanding issues; and

(d) if so, the details of the future plans?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRIMATI PRENEET KAUR)

(a) to (d) During the last three years, several rounds of discussions have been held between India and Bangladesh, including at the highest level. The Prime Minister of Bangladesh paid a State visit to India in January 2010 and a subsequent visit to Tripura in January 2012. The Prime Minister paid a State visit to Bangladesh in September 2011.

Other recent Ministerial level exchanges included the visits to Bangladesh by the External Affairs Minister in July 2011, Home Minister in July 2011, Finance Minister in May 2012, Minister of Law and Justice and Minority Affairs in May 2012, Minister of Rural Development, Drinking Water and Sanitation in August 2012 and Minister of Health and Family Welfare in November 2012. From Bangladesh, Ministerial level visits to India included that of the Foreign Minister in May 2012, Finance Minister in July 2012, Minister for Local Government, Rural and Urban Development in September 2012, Information and Cultural Affairs Minister in September 2012 and Agriculture Minister in November 2012.

Both sides have also held regular official level meetings, including Foreign Office Consultations, Home Secretary Level Talks, Joint Working Groups on Trade, Power, Security, Inland Waterways, among others.

Bilateral discussions have encompassed all issues pertaining to the close and multifaceted relations between the two sides. Such bilateral discussions are a regular feature in the furtherance of relations between the two countries.

Both sides have agreed to maintain the momentum of ongoing exchanges and further strengthen the bilateral cooperation based on the principles of sovereign equality, friendship, trust and understanding for the mutual benefit of their people and collective prosperity of the region.
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Bangladesh

South Asia