FROM NEW DELHI: Indian President Pranab Mukherjee categorically said India will stay beside Bangladesh all the time. Neighboring Bangladesh is the best friend of India.  

He came up with the assurance while talking to visiting Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali at President Bhaban in New Delhi on Friday noon.

After emerging from the meeting with the Indian President, the Foreign Minister confirmed the matter to banglanews.

Regarding the meeting with Pranab Mukherjee, Mahmood Ali said Issues of bilateral interest between two neighboring nations were discussed with the Indian President. 

After taking charge as President of India, he visited Bangladesh as his maiden overseas tour, the minster added. 

AH Mahmood Ali went to New Delhi on Thursday noon on a four-day official visit to participate in the 3rd BD-India Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) meeting, scheduled to be held on Saturday (September 20).

He will also pay courtesy call on Indian national security advisor Ajit Doval at 2:30pm and prime minister Narendra Modi at 4:00pm on the day.

He is expected to meet India’s finance minister Arun Jaitley during the visit.

Foreign ministers of two countries will attend the JCC meeting at 11:30am on Saturday at Neheru Bhaban in New Delhi.

In the meeting, Mahmood Ali will lead the Bangladesh delegation while India’s Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj will lead her country.

Mahmood Ali will also meet India’s Rajya Sabha (Upper House) opposition leader Golam Nabi Azad at 4:30pm on the day.

According to the high commission source, after the JCC meeting, Bangladesh foreign minister on Saturday will leave New Delhi to attend UN general assembly in New York.

Foreign secretary Shahidul Haque and PMO principal secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikdar will accompany the minister.

BDST: 1425 HRS, SEP 19, 2014