A host of strategic bilateral issues, including extradition treaty, Teesta water treaty and boundary implementation agreement are expected to be high on the agenda in the first Indo-Bangla Joint Consultative Commission meeting to be held here tomorrow.

The External Affairs Minister, Mr S.M. Krishna, and his Bangladeshi counterpart Dipu Moni will co-chair the JCC meeting, which was formed under the framework agreement on development and cooperation signed during the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh’s visit to Dhaka in September last year.

The JCC meeting will discuss a wide range of issues, including water sharing, connectivity, border security and trade, official sources said.

They said the Commission would also review the progress made in implementation of the accords signed during Sheikh Hasina’s visit to New Delhi in 2010 and Dr Singh’s reciprocal visit to Bangladesh last September.

JCC, which was envisaged as an annual event at the level of foreign ministers, will also explore newer avenues for cooperation including progress of activities under the Framework Agreement, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

India has been pushing for early signing of an extradition treaty that will facilitate bringing back of northeastern Indian insurgents holed up in Bangladesh.

Later during the day, the Bangladesh Foreign Minister would be the Guest of Honour and participate on behalf of her government at the closing ceremony of the year—long joint celebrations of the 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore. The Vice-President, Mr Hamid Ansari, would be the Chief Guest at the ceremony to be held at Vigyan Bhavan.

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