AH Mahmood Ali set for four-day India visit

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali is embarking on a four-day tour to India scheduled for September 18-21 at the invitation of Indian Foreign Minister Shushma Swaraj.

Mahmood Ali will lead a delegation of Bangladesh in the third meeting of the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC). He will also meet Indian President Pranab Mukharjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The foreign minister disclosed it at a press conference on Monday. This is the first time a senior representative of the Bangladesh government is visiting India after formation of a new government of the big neighbour.

Earlier foreign secretary Shahidul Huq told that the third meeting of the JCC would be held on September 20 in New Delhi. The foreign ministers of the two countries would lead their respective sides in the meeting.

He also said preparations for the JCC meeting were afoot. “Meetings have been held to decide on the issues to be discussed in the JCC meeting. Mainly, the pending issues concerning the two countries will be discussed in the meeting. Decisions on these issues may come in the meeting,” he added.