Sheikh Hasina briefs PM on Bangladesh affairs

Bangladesh's top opposition leader Sheikh Hasina on Friday called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and is understood to have briefed him on the developments in her country. "It was a courtesy call," the prime minister's media adviser Sanjaya Baru said when asked about the meeting.

Hasina came to India to offer prayers at Ajmer Sharif. Accompanied by her top aide and a former minister in her Cabinet, Saber Hossain Chowdhury, she will travel to Kolkata on Saturday before returning to Dhaka on Sunday.

"Since Awami League has a long-standing and historic relationship with Congress party as well as other political parties in India, it is but natural in a democratic set up to meet leaders of different parties," Chowdhury said.

Hasina also held separate meetings with leader of the opposition L K Advani and Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee. She will meet External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh who will host a lunch for her on Saturday.

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