Saturday, August 6 2005 16:33 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dhaka: Seeking to put behind the recent strain in bilateral ties, India and Bangladesh today (Aug 6, 2005) agreed to set up coordinated border patrolling and finalise an extradition treaty but differences persisted on New Delhi's concerns on illegal migration from this country.

External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh, on his first visit to Dhaka after the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government assumed office last year, told reporters at a joint press meet with his Bangladesh counterpart Morshed Khan that he had taken up India's concerns regarding illegal migration from Bangladesh and proposed a high-level meeting to discuss the issue.

"We do not agree that there is any illegal migration from Bangladesh," Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Hemayetuddin said, adding there were mechanisms for identifying illegal people on each other's country. He said Dhaka has "taken note" of India's proposal and there will be further discussion on it.

On the issue of UN reforms, including expansion of the Security Council, Bangladesh said New Delhi's request for its support to India's candidature for a permanent seat as also the G-4 draft resolution would receive "active and friendly consideration", from it, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran said.