Asked if the existing bilateral security cooperation

against the use of Bangladesh territories by Indian separatists could be affected in case of change of governments in the countries as the both await general elections next year, Khurshid answered in the negative. "I am sure of the (continued) cooperation by Bangladesh that our security will not be compromised," he said. Khurshid also met main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief Khaleda Zia, reviewing progress of bilateral ties and discussing other issues of common interest. He said despite ups and downs or anxieties and excitements in Bangladesh-India relations, the ties between the two neighbours were actually ties of "two peoples" and not of "governments". Asked about the New Delhi-Dhaka and New Delhi-Beijing understandings on issues of intervening upstream waters for projects like dams, Khurshid said, "there is no reason for concerns" in either of the cases. He reassured Bangladesh of not taking any project in the upstream Indian region that could affect its lower riparian neighbour, as a joint study was already underway on Tipaimukh Project. Khurshid also remarked that China too did not undertake any project ignoring downstream India. The Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) meeting held yesterday ended with the signing of two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), one on the construction of Akhaura- Agartala rail link and another on the setting up of a think tank named Bangladesh-India Foundation. Meanwhile, a joint statement issued a day after the JCC meeting said the two ministers reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction at the significant forward movement in implementation of the decisions taken by the two sides. "This (meeting) has widened the scope of bilateral cooperation and relations have become truly multifaceted, encompassing a wide range of areas," the statement said.