While trade forms the cornerstone of discussions, the countries will also discuss contentious long-standing issues such as terrorism, illegal immigration, water sharing, land and Chittagong harbor access to supply North Eastern Areas through Bangladesh, gas pipeline from Myanmar, border disagreements, etc.

India has been increasingly concerned with the number of terrorist camps in Bangladesh and the number of terrorist incidents from those trained in that country. Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, funded by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence, have been moving large operations to Bangladesh. Their goal is to take advantage to cavalier attitudes of the Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal Governments, who think that pandering to terrorist elements among Muslims to gain the trust of the broader Muslim trust.  Terrorists have exploited this myopic thinking and infiltrated into many sensitive areas. The recent Varanasi, December IISc shooting, last’s Deepavali Delhi blasts, have all been executed by terrorists who have trained in, found sanctuary in, and infiltrated from Bangladesh.