The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, New Delhi

Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury paid a courtesy call on Indian Vice President Dr Hamid Ansari at his residence here on Saturday.

The Foreign Adviser thanked the Vice President for India's offer of relief and expression of solidarity with Bangladesh in the aftermath of Cyclone Sidr.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Liaquat Ali Choudhury and Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty were present.

Earlier, the Foreign Adviser held a joint meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh along with other SAARC Ministers who were in New Delhi to attend the SAARC Council of Ministers' Meeting. Iftekhar conveyed to the Indian Prime Minister greetings from Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and "thanks for the offer of 500,000 tonnes of rice and the reconstruction of 10 coastal villages", which he said "fitted into the Bangladesh plans of massive coastal development as announced by the Chief Adviser". The Indian Prime Minister deeply appreciated the cooperation Bangladesh has been extending to India in international fora as well, which he observed, "contributed to the current excellent bilateral relations".

Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee was present on the occasion.