Mukherjee arrives in Dhaka to attend Tagore's 150th birth anniversary celebrations

Dhaka, May 6 (ANI): Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee arrived here on Saturday to participate in the concluding ceremony of the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore.

He was received by Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni and other officials.

Mukherjee's visit is coinciding with the two-day visit of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Mukherjee, who is also on two-day visit, would hold delegation-level talks with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and will meet opposition leader Khaleda Zia on Sunday.

The two countries have struggled to establish good ties ever since India helped its eastern neighbour to emerge as independent Bangladesh in 1971 from what was then East Pakistan.

Bangladesh and India had earlier signed a comprehensive framework agreement on bilateral cooperation, a protocol on land boundaries, Memoranda of Understanding on renewable energy and conservation of the Sundarban mangrove forests, home of the Royal Bengal Tigers.

Mukherjee's visit to Bangladesh is likely to provide an impetus to bilateral relations, but according to media reports, the government seems to have no expectations regarding the signing of the Teesta agreement.

Analysts say India wants a lasting, stable relationship with Bangladesh, an emerging economy and big market for Indian goods, no matter who rules in Dhaka.

Bilateral trade has grown steadily but remains heavily in India's favour, with the gap widening, causing concern in Bangladesh where businesses are asking for the removal of both tariff and non-tariff barriers. By Mrityunjay Singh (ANI)