New Delhi: Ahead of his talks with Indian leaders, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Mohd. Morshed Khan on February 14 sought to downplay the issue of illegal migrants from his country but stressed that migration laws needed to be made "more responsible".

"I don't think there is any illegal migrant from Bangladesh coming to India to live. Our immigration laws should be made more responsible," Khan told reporters soon after an interactive session with the business community organised by the CII (Confederation of Indian Industry).

Khan's three-day visit comes close on the heels of the recent standoff between the Border Security Force and the Bangladesh Rifles at the Indo-Bangla border in West Bengal.

India has voiced serious concerns over the presence of over 15 million illegal migrants from Bangladesh in this country. Taking a tough stand, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani had said that these illegal migrants should be "thrown out" of the country.

Khan will hold wide-ranging discussions with External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha on the entire gamut of bilateral issues besides exchanging perceptions on important regional and international developments.

He will call on Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Advani on February 15.

Asked about the Indian concerns, he said there were internationally established rules and standards to deal with the issue. "No side can be illogical or unreasonable."

PTI