Dhaka expects the ongoing trade recession between Bangladesh and India to be over soon, Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain said today.

"It is not affecting only Bangladesh but also India. The traders of Kolkata are also being affected," he said at a discussion on "SAARC-People of South Asia Crave".

"We hope the standoff will overcome," he added.

SAARC Journalist Forum, Bangladesh Chapter organised the event at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital today.

Addressing as the chief guest, Touhid Hossain said Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is coming to Dhaka for Foreign Office Consultation tomorrow and will discuss the issues concerning the two countries.

"If we want to solve problems, we have to admit the problem first," he said.

The foreign adviser also said the bilateral relationship since the August 5 political changeover has changed in qualitative terms.

About SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation), Touhid Hossain said Bangladesh is expecting the SAARC foreign secretary level meeting, which has been halted for last 10 years.

After that, there should be foreign minister level meeting, he added.

The SAARC summit level meeting has been also shelved for 10 years, basically because of the India-Pakistan conflicts.

"SAARC appears dead but it should not be buried," the adviser said referring to a statement by an Indian diplomat.

He said the regional cooperation was extremely important for improving trade and economy and reducing poverty in the South Asian region.