Delhi, Dhaka vouch to fight terrorism

India and Bangladesh have reiterated their commitment to fight against “violence” along the international border highlighting on the Meherpur incident where the BSF killed a Bangladeshi national.

The first day of the border coordination conference between BSF and BGB on Thursday discussed trans-border crime, especially smuggling of narcotics and fake Indian bank notes, action against Indian insurgent groups and destruction of their hideouts.

They discussed on issues of common interest of both countries.

Border-guarding agencies of both the countries have also decided to jointly prevent illegal migration and human trafficking of Bangladeshi nationals, effective implementation of coordinated border management plan (CBMP) for preventing trans-border crimes.

On Sunday, Directors General of both BSF and BGB will sign Joint Record of Discussions which will be followed by a joint media briefing at BSF headquarter in New Delhi.

A 20-strong Bangladesh delegation was led by Maj Gen Aziz Ahmed, DG, BGB in the conference. The 24-member Indian delegation was headed by Devendra Kumar Pathak, DG, BSF.

The DG-level meeting between BSF and BGB is held twice a year. It was institutionalised during the discussions between the home secretaries of India and Bangladesh in Dhaka in 1993.

In the agreed summary of discussions during that meeting, it was emphasised that problems in the areas of mutual interests and concerns can be progressively resolved through close contacts and continuing meaningful dialogue at various levels.

Accordingly, DGs have been holding border coordination meetings twice a year alternatively at Delhi and Dhaka and joint record of discussions of these meetings were forwarded to Ministry of Home Affairs after each such meeting.