The president said this when newly appointed Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty presented his credentials to him at the Bangabhaban.

Welcoming the new Indian envoy, the president said Bangladesh attaches great importance to its relations with India and is deeply committed to promoting peace, progress and development through bilateral and regional cooperation.

He also stressed the need for inter-university linkage between Bangladesh and India, particularly with Dhaka University.

The president said the prosperity and economic development of Bangladesh and India are closely inter-related and it is necessary to intensify efforts to enhance economic cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.

Bangladesh would like to see greater cooperation and interactions with India in the field of trade and commerce, he said and hoped that both the countries would take appropriate measures to expand and diversify economic and trade relations.

The president assured the high commissioner of all support and cooperation in discharging his responsibilities.

He requested the envoy to convey his best wishes to Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The Indian high commissioner termed the relations between India and Bangladesh "excellent" and said it would be further strengthened in the days to come through people-to-people contact.

He said he will take the issue of the proposed Tipaimukh dam with his government.