New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will meet the prime minister of Bangladesh and the president of Sri Lanka during the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) summit in the Myanmarese capital next week.
This will be prime minister’s first meeting with Sheikh Hasina post the Bangladesh general elections last month. India had solidly backed her government’s decision to hold polls as a necessary constitutional process when other countries, especially the United States, wanted a postponement.
Bangladesh is an important element in the forward march of India’s Look East policy that aims at stronger economic and strategic linkages with Southeast Asia.
Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh said talks between the two prime ministers would be “comprehensive”.
Dr Singh would also meet Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The prime minister could not attend the Commonwealth Summit in Colombo last October due to domestic political opposition. (IANS)
