"Bangladesh does not believe in retaliation against anyone, if Bangladesh wanted, it could've done so, but that does not improve relations," Morshed said in reply to questions by reporters if Dhaka would slap para-tariff and non-tariff barriers on Indian imports to narrow the trade gap between the countries.

"You can only improve relations by logic and reasoning for a more long-lasting solution to issues," Morshed told a weekly foreign ministry briefing.

"Dhaka-Delhi relations are always improving and not decreasing," the foreign minister said, adding his comments on Indian policies on August 7 in Dhaka were hyped up by the press, not his description of bilateral relations.

Morshed stressed the ongoing meeting of Bangladesh-India home ministries and the just concluding Joint Committee of Experts on water-sharing between the two countries in Dhaka testified to 'where the relations currently stand'.

Asked about his views on mudslinging between the two countries on various issues, including the presence of terrorists in each others' territories, water-sharing and trade, Morshed said: "The blame game has turned into a habit of politicians on both sides, but people want something concrete. The onus is on us to find lasting solutions."

Morshed also said he was likely to meet United States Secretary of State Colin Powell, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and South Asian foreign ministers among others on the sidelines of his visit to the 59th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) starting on Tuesday.

He hinted at meeting his Indian counterpart Natwar Singh depending upon their schedules on the sidelines of the UNGA.

On a question on the possibility of Dhaka-Delhi-Pakistan collaboration on counter-terrorist measures reportedly prescribed by the US, Morshed referred to the Additional Protocol on Terrorism signed at the last Saarc (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) Summit in Islamabad. He also said he would raise the issue at the Saarc foreign ministers meeting on the sidelines of the UNGA.

Morshed is scheduled to address the plenary session of the UNGA on September 23, which coincides with the 30th anniversary of Bangladesh's membership of the UN.

Morshed is also expected to hold ministerial-level meetings of the Non-aligned movement, the Organisation of Islamic Conferences, the Commonwealth, Group of 77 countries, D8 and the Saarc-Asean dialogue.

He also referred to the ongoing discussions on probable deployment of greater peacekeeping troops under the aegis of the UN and also mentioned that Bangladesh for the first time would have a force commander in a peacekeeping mission as General Fazle Elahi Akbar took charge in Georgia.

Morshed outlined Bangladesh's substantial contribution to the UN system and illustrated its support for a package of membership reforms of the UN Security Council and its working methods to enhance democratisation of the decision-making process.

The foreign minister kicks off his 12-day UNGA trip today.