Sushma Swaraj calls on Bangladesh president

Dhaka: Visiting External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today called on Bangladesh`s President Abdul Hamid here and discussed issues of mutual interest.

"The President congratulated Ms Sushma Swaraj on assumption of the high office of external affairs minister and expressed the hope that her visit will further strengthen friendly relations between the two countries," a presidential palace spokesman said. Swaraj, he said, stayed at the Bangabhaban for about 40 minutes where the president also hoped that the existing problems between the two countries will be solved through discussions. "The President requested her to convey his regards and best wishes to the President and Prime Minister of India," the president`s press secretary Ihsanul Karim said. Swaraj told the president that she had a fruitful discussion with her Bangladeshi counterpart. Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh and Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pankaj Saran, Bangladesh Ambassador to India Tarik A Karim, Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque and presidential officials were present during the meeting.