"Let us sit together and start dialogue for resolving all the matters for enhancing friendly relations," he called upon Bangladesh officials during an open discussion following his speech at Bangladesh Enterprise Institute in the city yesterday.

On the question of India's river linking projects which is supposed to bring severe negative impact on Bangladesh, he said the matter is still at a conceptual stage and nothing would be done without involving Bangladesh.

Referring to the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty between the two nations, he observed that such agreements could also be signed on sharing of waters from other rivers.

He said Bangladesh can earn a lot if it provides transit to north-eastern Indian states.

He called upon Bangladesh to get benefit from economic growth in India.

There is no special rule in India that can be used for protectionism in trade policies with Bangladesh, he said.

He pointed out that Bangladesh is one of India's largest trade partners and a close friend.

Other irritants between the two countries like insurgency, huge trade gap, transit, migration of people also came up for discussion.

The external affairs secretary said that in the absence of access to Chittagong port from north-eastern Indian states, New Delhi is building roads and ports in Myanmar for getting access to the Bay of Bengal.

Inviting Bangladesh to board the Indian 'look east' foreign policy train, he said the policy has strong rationale.

"It would not be a very distant future when one would be able to take a bus from Kolkata and go to Bangkok via Dhaka. One would also be able to ride a train from Delhi to Singapore," he said.

The Indian secretary underscored the need for consolidating the relations among the countries in various regional groups like Bimstec, Mekong-Ganges Cooperation (MGC) and Asean for their prosperity.

"Growing cooperation between India and East Asian countries is economically logical and essential," he said, adding, "We may have missed some openings in the past. Now we are determined not to lose the new opportunities that come our way."

India's relations with China and Pakistan are also improving, he observed.

Speaking on the occasion, Indian High Commissioner in Bangladesh Veena Sikri stressed the need for regular dialogue for removing all mistrust between the two neighbouring countries.

The people of Bangladesh are very friendly towards India, she said.

Diplomats, former ambassadors, members of parliament, high government officials and economists participated in the open discussion.