Pranab in Bangladesh, given VVIP reception

Dhaka: Making the first political contact with the new Bangladesh government, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee arrived in Dhaka on Monday for a day-long visit seeking Bangladesh's cooperation in combating terrorism and improving trade and investment relations.

India and Bangladesh will sign two agreements for bilateral trade and investment promotion after Mukherjee holds talks with his counterpart Dipu Moni.

"I hope to cover in all my interactions the entire gamut of our relations including security, connectivity, trade and investment, and other important areas," he told reporters on arrival at the Zia International Airport.

Mukherjee will also hold discussions with Bangladesh Home

Minister Sahara Khatum and he will also call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The two sides are expected to discuss Bangladesh's proposal for setting up of joint anti-terror mechanism to fight the menace.

Mukherjee's visit will provide the first high-level contact between the two countries since the Sheikh Hasina government returned to power last month.

Soon after Hasina assumed charge, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had spoken to her and had expressed keenness to further strengthen bilateral relations.

Singh had told her that he would send Mukherjee to hold talks with the new government.

"As a friendly neighbour, India looks forward to working closely with the newly elected government under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina to further strengthen ties between the countries," Mukherjee said.

He said India remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting the friendly people of Bangladesh and emphasized the need for both the countries to work closely to strengthen the multifaceted relationship for mutual benefit of the people of the region.

The Minister was accorded a ‘VVIP star mark’ reception that is conventionally reserved for heads of states.

Mukherjee will unveil a model of the cyclone resistant dwellings India would be building in the 11 villages destroyed in the cyclone Sidr in November 2007.

Mukherjee will also lay the foundation stone for the construction of 'Kalabhaban' in the University of Dhaka.