DHAKA: India's top diplomat arrived in Bangladesh on Wednesday keen to placate his hosts after comments by the prime minister last week calling many Bangladeshis “anti-Indian” caused uproar.

External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said that New Delhi attached “the highest importance to relations with Bangladesh”, adding that he hoped to sign several agreements during his three-day visit.

“Our bilateral relations are passing through the best phase in recent times with a number of new and forward-looking initiatives taken by the leadership of the two countries,” he said in a speech after landing in Dhaka.

Krishna's trip was planned weeks ago but has been overshadowed by comments made by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at a press meeting.—AFP