Swaraj hold talks with Bangladesh foreign minister

Dhaka, June 26 (IANS) Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj held bilateral talks Thursday with her Bangladesh counterpart Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali in Dhaka on a range of issues.

"India, Bangladesh begin discussion on entire gamut of bilateral relations," India's external affairs ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin tweeted as the two leaders met.

The meeting lasted more than an hour and a half and a whole range of bilateral issues were discussed, bdnews24.com reported citing the Bangladesh foreign ministry statement.

Swaraj arrived in Dhaka Wednesday night on a three-day official visit.

It is the first visit to Bangladesh by an Indian minister of the Narendra Modi-led government that came to power last month with clear majority.

Swaraj will meet Bangladesh President Md. Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Thursday.

Before leaving Dhaka Friday, she will also meet Leader of Opposition Raushon Ershad and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Swaraj will also deliver a lecture on "Bangladesh-India relations" Thursday at a Dhaka hotel.