ISLAMABAD, July 28: President Gen Pervez Musharraf leaves on Monday on a five-day visit of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

He will arrive in Dhaka on Monday afternoon for his three-day visit of the country.

Gen Musharraf is scheduled to hold talks with Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia on bilateral relations and situation in South Asia, particularly the tension between India and Pakistan following amassing of troops by India.

The leaders will also exchange views to enhance bilateral trade relations.

In Colombo, President Musharraf will hold talks with Sri Lankan leaders on matters of bilateral interest, including boosting of trade, besides regional situation.

In Dhaka, Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Shamsher Mobin Chawdhury told newsmen that the president’s visit would have positive impact on enhancing relations between the countries.

He said a business delegation would accompany the president.

The official talks between leaders of Pakistan and Bangladesh, he said, would be held on July 30.

He said the main agenda of the visit was to improve economic and trade relations between the countries.

“We want to develop closer relations with all our neighbouring countries and the visit will enhance our economic and cultural ties with Pakistan,” he said.

The two countries, he said, would try to develop closer cooperation in the fields of education, technology and shipping, besides trade and commerce. “There is enough scope to expand our relations with Pakistan,” Mobin added.

According to official sources here, the president’s visit to Bangladesh is expected to prove instrumental in enhancing bilateral trade ties.

The balance of trade between Pakistan and Bangladesh is in favour of Pakistan. Major exports to Bangladesh include rice, textile, yarn and fabrics, cotton, petroleum products, pharmaceutical products, cloth, vegetable and fruits.

Major imports from Bangladesh are, tea, jute cutting, sacks and bags of jute and betel leaves.—APP