India, Bangladesh likely to ink 33 MoUs during Sheikh Hasina's visit

Dhaka [Bangladesh], Apr. 5 (ANI): Bangladesh Foreign Minister A H Mahmood Ali has said that 33 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) are e likely to be signed during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's official visit to New Delhi. Prime Minister will be undertaking a four-day visit to India from Friday. Addressing media here ahead of the visit, Mahmood said that it will be aimed at expanding bilateral trade, boosting investment, connectivity and sub-regional assistance. Construction of Padma and Ganges barrages, distribution of common river water, border management and fighting cross-border drugs and human trafficking are also among the issues likely to be discussed. The Bangladesh Prime Minister will also honour 1661 Indian soldiers who lost their lives during the 1971 Liberation War, he said. All agreements will be made public, Ali said at a media briefing in Dhaka. The prime minister will fly to India on April 7 and return to Dhaka on April 10. The deals to be signed are tied to the establishment of border posts, information exchange, nuclear power, science, technology, electricity, energy and defence, the foreign minister said. Asked about the defence agreements and possibility of a breakthrough on the Teesta water sharing agreement, Ali said while he would not go into specifics, everything would be done in a transparent manner. (ANI)