Sunday, August 7 2005 11:18 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dhaka: India yesterday (August 6, 2005) said Bangladesh was ready to join the tri-nation billion-dollar gas pipeline project with Myanmar. External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh, who held talks with Bangladesh's Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman, said Dhaka had assured him that it would participate in the project.

"Yes, without the participation of Bangladesh, how can it take off," Singh told reporters when asked whether Dhaka had assured him of joining the project.

Rahman said Bangladesh had agreed in principle to join the gas pipeline though trade concession issues were still to be sorted out.

"In principle, we have said yes, it is possible. But there are other issues involved in it. We have to sort out these issues."