Dhaka, June 26 (TIWN): Visiting Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj met Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina here Thursday.Earlier Thursday, Swaraj met her Bangladeshi counterpart Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali at 10 a.m. and discussed bilateral issues.

The meeting began at 11.30 a.m., the Daily Star reported.

"India, Bangladesh begin discussion on entire gamut of bilateral relations," India's external affairs ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin tweeted. 

Swaraj is also scheduled to meet Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban at 6 p.m. Thursday.

This is her first official visit abroad as external affairs minister.

She will also meet Bangladesh's Leader of the Opposition Raushan Ershad, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and prime minister's advisers Gowher Rizvi and Mashiur Rahman before leaving for India Friday.

Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj held bilateral talks Thursday with her Bangladesh counterpart Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali in Dhaka on a range of issues.

"India, Bangladesh begin discussion on entire gamut of bilateral relations," India's external affairs ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin tweeted as the two leaders met. 

The meeting lasted more than an hour and a half and a whole range of bilateral issues were discussed, bdnews24.com reported citing the Bangladesh foreign ministry statement.

Swaraj arrived in Dhaka Wednesday night on a three-day official visit.

It is the first visit to Bangladesh by an Indian minister of the Narendra Modi-led government that came to power last month with clear majority.

Swaraj will meet Bangladesh President Md. Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Thursday.

Before leaving Dhaka Friday, she will also meet Leader of Opposition Raushon Ershad and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Swaraj will also deliver a lecture on "Bangladesh-India relations" Thursday at a Dhaka hotel.