Resolution of unsettled matters with Bangladesh were priority issues of New Delhi, newly-appointed Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Harsh Vardhan Shringla said today as he presented credentials to President Abdul Hamid.
"The government of India will give priority to resolving all unsettled issues between the two neighbouring countries," a Bangabhaban presidential palace spokesman told PTI.
He said that the envoy praised flourishing of Bangladesh's democracy and development, and described the existing situation as "the good time to expand relations between the two countries".
The Indian High Commission in a statement said that while presenting the credentials, Shringla told the president "it would be his endeavour to work towards further expanding and strengthening the close and friendly relations that exist between India and Bangladesh".
"The High Commissioner said he looked forward to working with the Government of Bangladesh to realise the full potential of India-Bangladesh relations so as to enhance the welfare and well-being of both peoples based on mutual respect, mutual benefit and mutual understanding of each other's concerns and aspirations," it said.
According to the Bangabhaban spokesman, President Hamid welcoming the envoy said that India is a close neighbour of Bangladesh and the bilateral trade ties in particular "would get a further boost when Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicle Agreement (MVA) will be implemented".
A smartly turned up contingent of President's Guard Regiment earlier welcomed the envoy at the presidential palace with an honour guard.
Shringla presented his credentials a week after his arrival.
The new envoy, who prior to his new appointment served as India's ambassador to Thailand, succeeded his predecessor Pankaj Saran who left Dhaka in December to assume his duties as Indian envoy in Moscow.
In the course of his diplomatic career spanning over 30 years, Shringla has held various positions in New Delhi and in Indian missions in Paris, Hanoi and Tel Aviv.
(Reopens FGN 10)
Islamic State group and a South Asian branch of Al-Qaeda (AQIS) have claimed responsibilities for most of the murders.
However, the government rejects the claim attributing the murders to homegrown militant outfits like Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), saying key-opposition outside parliament BNP and its crucial ally fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami were patronising the attacks under an orchestrated plot against the government.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday vowed to catch "each and every killer" and asked people to help capture the militants to support the anti-Islamist security clampdown that is underway.
A spokesman in police headquarters said nearly 200 suspected militants have been arrested since the crackdown was launched.
