Dhaka: The Sino-Bangladesh Defence cooperation agreement signed recently will not hurt Dhaka's ties with New Delhi, Foreign Minister Morshed Khan has said.

Asked if the Defence accord with China would have any bearing on Bangladesh's relations with India, Khan said, "of course not", adding, "it is not a destructive matter. It is to ensure timely and necessary Defence cooperation between China and Bangladesh and is not directed at any third country."

"It has been done in line with the globally acknowledged practice," Khan told reporters.

Dhaka unilaterally continued its policy of cooperation with New Delhi although it was impeded at times, Khan said.

India has now realised the need for cooperation, the Minister claimed, adding, "it is an economic compulsion, not a political one for which the two closest neighbours should pursue the policy of cooperation."

An umbrella Defence cooperation agreement between Bangladesh and China was signed on December 24 to help institutionalise the existing agreement with China in the field, official BSS news agency reported from Beijing.

"The agreement will remove difficulties we had to face for piecemeal Defence cooperation involving various Ministries and departments," Khan said.

The Minister, however, refused to release any copy of the Defence accord or elaborate its content.

"I must make it clear that it is not a security pact. It is only on expanding cooperation in the Defence sector. The deal is aimed at modernising the armed forces of Bangladesh. Training of troops is its main focus. I hope Bangladesh would benefit from it," he said.

PTI