Foreign Secretaries of India and Bangladesh met in New Delhi on Tuesday to review the issues to strengthen mutually beneficial and friendly relations, official sources said.

Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran is heading the Indian delegation while Bangladeshi side is led by his counterpart Mohammad Hemayatudin.

The two-day meeting is taking place after a gap of 15 months.

The issues on the table include security, border management, cross-border movements, cooperation in water resources, economic cooperation, defence exchanges, consular and cultural exchanges.

Ahead of the meeting, Hemayatudin said Dhaka attached considerable importance to the deliberations. Observing that he has an 'open, fresh and positive mind' for consultations with Saran, he said, "We will discuss all issues of bilateral interest and cooperation."

"We are looking for a positive consultation and attaching considerable importance to the meeting which is also significant for our foreign policy," Hemayatudin said.
 
In another development, India said it was willing to issue the maximum number of visas to Bangladeshis as part of efforts to further improve people-to-people contacts with the country.

Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed conveyed this development to Hemayatudin when the latter called on him in New Delhi, the sources said.

During the 20-minute meeting, Ahamed said India considered Bangladesh an important neighbour strategically, politically and economically.