Dhaka, June 05: Denying allegations over any "understanding" on the issue of export of gas to India, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Morshed M Khan has said a decision on the matter is still under consideration. Media reports here attributing to government's critics said Bangladesh has consented to India's demand to give gas and extend transshipment facilities when Finance Minister Saifur Rahman met Indian leaders in New Delhi last month.
"These issues were not even raised by India," Khan was quoted as saying by a newspaper.
Saifur Rahman on his return here said during discussions, the Indian leadership had told him the decision to export gas lies with Bangladesh. Referring to Free Trade Agreement proposed by India, Khan said this is a matter of global trend and "we need to understand it since it is new to Bangladesh," the paper said.
Khan also said his Indian counterpart Yashwant Sinha on the sidelines of Commonwealth ministerial advisory group meeting, told him the question of exporting gas is an independent matter of Bangladesh.
The issue of the export of gas to India remains touchy with the two main sides -- ruling and opposition taking diagonally opposite stand. State Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources A.K.M. Mosharraf Hossain addressing a discussion on national budget for 2003-4, said, "The donors assured us of increasing aid if we exported gas to India".
"If aid declines, it would be difficult for government to tailor budget," the minister said. Bureau Report