By Mizan Rahman
Dhaka
Indian foreign secretary S Jaishankar will arrive in the Bangladesh capital Dhaka on March 2, diplomatic sources said yesterday.
The Indian foreign secretary will, in accordance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s directives, be undertaking the first phase of the Saarc Yatra (journey) from March 1.
Jaishankar will visit Bhutan on March 1, Bangladesh on March 2, Pakistan on March 3 and Afghanistan on March 4.
The schedule for the other destinations is being worked out through diplomatic channels and will be indicated
separately.
Diplomatic sources said Jaishankar will have meeting with Bangladesh foreign secretary M Shahidul Haque on March 2 and discuss a wide range of bilateral issues between
Bangladesh and India.
This will be Jaishankar’s first visit to Bangladesh since he took over the charge of the Indian foreign secretary on January 29.
Jaishankar will meet President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister AH
Mahmood Ali.
The Indian foreign secretary may convey to Bangladesh leadership that New Delhi is committed to resolving the two long pending contentious issue of ratifying the land boundary agreement in the budget session of parliament and signing the Teesta water sharing deal with
Bangladesh.
Earlier on February 13, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he would soon be sending his new foreign secretary Jaishankar to Saarc countries including Bangladesh to strengthen ties with the member-countries.
“Would be sending our new Foreign Secretary on a Saarc (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) Yatra soon to further strengthen our ties,” Modi tweeted.  
Assuming the charge, the foreign secretary earlier said his priorities are the
government’s priorities.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, during her recent Dhaka visit, assured the Bangladesh leadership of resolving the issues.
Dhaka has long been demanding the passage of the Land Boundary Agreement bill as well as signing the
Teesta water sharing deal.