"That is because people in West Bengal and Bangladesh belong to same culture, history, tradition and language," Morshed said when a Kolkata Press Club delegation paid a courtesy call on him at his office.

He said there is no major issue like Kashmir between Bangladesh and India. There are some irritants that can be resolved through discussions for the benefit of the two peoples.

He deplored that "when we make some progress in our relations, one small irritant would push us back. But we don't have any problem like Kashmir… We can overcome the small irritants that we have through discussions."

He said West Bengal journalists can play a significant roe in improving the relations between the two next door neighbours. He also stressed that Bangladeshi journalists should maintain regular contacts with Kolkata journalists.

On the proposed river-linking project of India, West Bengal journalists said there are some opposition within India against the river-linking project, which is not feasible.

They said that the new Indian government might not go ahead with the project initiated by the past government as a "political stunt."

Kolkata Press Club President Raj Mithaulia of Hindustan Times and General Secretary Snehasis Sura of Dur Darshan led the six-member delegation. DG (South Asia) Fazlul Karim, DGEP Zahurul Haque and National Press Club Vice-President Nurul Huda and General Secretary Sawkat Mahmud were present.