Alastair Lawson BBC correspondent in Dhaka

The Bangladesh and India Foreign Secretaries, Shamser Mobin Chowdhury and Kanwal Sibal, have concluded wide-ranging talks in Dhaka.

The two sides discussed illegal Bangladeshi immigration into India, improving trade ties, and establishing better road and rail communications.

Although both sides expressed satisfaction with the talks, it appears that little substantive progress has been made on key issues.

Bengali speakers were caught in limbo earlier this year

The fact that Bangladesh and India are talking at all is a healthy sign, given the poor state of relations between the two countries earlier this year.

In January, Dhaka accused Delhi of trying to force thousands of suspected illegal immigrants across the border, in violation of international law.

A tense stand-off ensued, with security forces on both sides on high alert.

Diplomatic words

The two foreign secretaries, both civil servants, concluded Tuesday's talks with a resolution that all illegal immigrants could be deported after their nationality had been verified.

It was a diplomatic use of words, steering clear of the bitter row earlier this year.

The Indian side did not repeat a controversial assertion made recently by the Home Minister that there are 20 million illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in India.

The two countries agreed that more work must be done to demarcate their joint border.

They expressed concern over the plight of Bangladeshis living in enclaves in India and Indians living in enclaves in Bangladesh.

Delhi repeated its request for more road and rail access to Bangladesh, which would give it better communications to the seven north-east Indian states.

Dhaka in turn asked for more trade concessions from its larger neighbour.