Dhaka: External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha arrived in Dhaka on July 14 evening to lead India in the long-awaited meeting of Indo-Bangladesh Joint Economic Commission (JEC) on July 15 with both sides deciding to seize the opportunity to put across their special areas of concerns.

In an arrival statement, Sinha told reporters that India would like to take up issues like free trade agreement, transit and trans-shipment with Bangladesh.

He said he looked forward to the deliberations of the Commission and to detailed discussions with his Bangladeshi counterpart on the possibilities of imparting added depth and dynamism to bilateral co- operation in diverse fields.

Indian Deputy High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dilip Sinha said besides free trade agreement, New Delhi would raise the issues of speedy start to road and rail links and transit facilities.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan, who will lead the home team in the JEC meeting, articulated his country's stand when he told reporters that Dhaka would take up issues of market access to Bangladeshi goods to India as well as removal of tariff, para-tariff and non-tariff barriers.

PTI