<div style="text-align: justify; "><b><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud has said that border killing is very unfortunate and they are in regular consultations with India to ensure that border forces don’t apply any force that might cause fatalities.</span><br></b></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“We are against border killings. We – the two countries - are working so that it does not happen. We are working in that direction. We are in regular consultations,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The foreign minister said this while talking to journalist&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 1rem; font-weight: bolder;">on Wednesday</span><b style="font-size: 1rem;">.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Two young men from Bangladesh were reportedly shot and killed by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) on Wednesday, as they allegedly tried to cross into India near Tetulia upazila in Panchagarh.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Minister Hasan said the issue of killings along the border will be discussed when Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra comes to Bangladesh.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He said India is Bangladesh’s immediate neighbour and they have many issues with India. “Naturally, different issues will be discussed.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Kwarta is likely to be in Dhaka tonight (Wednesday) as part of "high-level exchanges" between the two countries.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Thursday.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen will host a lunch in honour of his Indian counterpart during his brief visit.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Speculations are rife regarding the forthcoming visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India within the next couple of months.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The preparatory issues may also come up for discussion during Indian FS's engagements in Dhaka, said a diplomatic source.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Though there was no official announcement from Dhaka and New Delhi regarding the visit, the Indian FS was scheduled to be in Dhaka on a brief visit on April 20 but it was postponed.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Look, elections are underway there (in India). It (visit) was postponed because of various internal (India's) reasons,” Foreign Minister Hasan told reporters when asked about the reasons behind the postponement of the visit at that time.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Diplomatic sources indicate that PM Hasina's visit to India is planned for early July, after the conclusion of the neighbouring country’s election.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Pre-election surveys suggest a strong showing for the coalition led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is widely anticipated to secure re-election, reprots UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Prime Minister's (Sheikh Hasina) India visit will definitely take place. However, it will take place after the election in India," FM Hasan said recently.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He also said it is not yet discussed at the official level when the visit will exactly take place.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd/fas</div>