Bangladesh Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan on Friday said Indo-Bangladesh relations has to be based on mutual respect and 'irritants should not be a stumbling block for the betterment of our people'.

Addressing a meeting held in his honour by the Confederation of Indian Industry, he said one of the irritants is the porous and unmarked border.

He pointed out that the 4,000-odd km Indo-Bangladesh border is often referred to as being 'India-logged (like waterlogged)' in Bangladesh and as 'Bangladesh-logged in India'.

He said both countries needed to avoid mutual misunderstandings and need to undertake bilateral talks sans mediation. "Under the circumstances, we are destined to work together and the onus is on us today," Morshed said.

He said that the business community on both sides had to be vibrant and sufficient attention on this was not being paid. "It is not a one-day match. Bangladesh is a country where there is tremendous goodwill for the Indian business community."

He said the lack of 'vested interests' pertaining to increased investments in the two countries was responsible for the mutual misunderstandings. "Any country giving us a trade surplus of US$ 3 billion most be considered as a good neighbour," Morshed said.

He said, "After the birth of Bangladesh, we have failed in our responsibility. Some unscrupulous traders on both sides has taken advantage and given a bad name to the two countries," he said.

He said his country was strongly committed against terrorism and that Bangladesh, born a secular country, had 'undiluted democracy'. It was born against 'any fundamentalism' and its secular credentials are intact.

Referring to the reforms process in his country, he admitted that there were teething problems. "Reforms themselves are meaningless unless the fruit percolates down to the people."

With inputs from agencies