Bangladesh, India home ministers wake up to Dhaka terror attack

The home ministers of Bangladesh and India have agreed for “speedy operationalisation” of the existing agreements to combat terrorism in the wake of the Dhaka terror attacks.

One of the agreements was on ‘Combating Terrorism and Organized Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking’ that both home ministers agreed “to immediately” put into operation.

Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and Rajnath Singh met at New Delhi on Thursday at the bilateral talks and discussed how to give “concrete” shape to the existing bilateral agreements.

“We are neighbours, friends and partners. If you have a problem today it would become our problem. If we have a problem today that would become your problem,” Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Harsh Vardhan Shringla told journalists on Friday after opening an education fair.

“We need to work together on any issue,” he said, adding that both home ministers discussed how to set in motion the existing mechanism agreed upon by the two countries.

An Indian government statement said Singh condemned the horrific terrorist attacks in Dhaka in July and conveyed his deepest condolences during the meeting.

He assured Bangladesh of India’s “fullest support and cooperation” in its fight against terrorism, fundamentalism and radicalism.

He said that the two countries had “to be vigilant at all times and channelise efforts to defeat the terrorism and ensure peace, security and prosperity between the two countries”.

During the talks, the two sides recalled Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s address in the wake of those attacks, emphasising the need for unity in the fight against terrorism and to be vigilant against the designs of destabilising elements in society.

They appreciated various counter-terrorism measures taken by the government of Bangladesh to fight extremist and radical elements.

The two sides agreed to further strengthen the ongoing cooperation between the security and investigative agencies of the two countries through a programme of training, capacity building, and information exchange.

They welcomed the signing of an addendum to the Bilateral Extradition Treaty of 2013 to streamline it and make it more effective.

They also agreed on the need for a Repatriation Treaty to simplify and expedite the procedure of repatriation of each other’s nationals.

Both sides also agreed to undertake urgent action for the repatriation of released prisoners and victims of human trafficking.

They emphasised the need for the speedy operationalisation of three bilateral MoUs signed during the visit of the Prime Minister of India to Bangladesh in June 2015:

>> MoU between Indian Coast Guard and Bangladesh Coast Guard for the Establishment of Collaborative Relationship to Combat Transnational Illegal Activities at Sea and Develop Regional Cooperation.

>> To Prevent and Counter Smuggling and Circulation of Fake Currency Notes, and Bilateral Cooperation for Prevention of Human Trafficking especially Trafficking in Women and Children.

>>For Rescue, Recovery, Repatriation and Reintegration of Victims of Trafficking.

The two ministers agreed that the Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Bangladesh had infused “a new dynamism” into bilateral relations, widening the avenues for cooperation between the two countries.

Both sides reaffirmed their resolve to strengthen this relationship on the basis of friendship, trust and understanding for mutual benefit.

They also emphasised the importance of effective implementation of the Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) to enhance cooperation between border guards of the two countries.

They believed that this would enable them to better monitor the identified vulnerable areas with a view to preventing criminal activities, irregular movement, acts of violence and loss of lives along the border areas.

Both ministers expressed satisfaction at the finalisation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for allowing use of Indian border roads for the construction and maintenance of Border Out Posts (BOPs) of the BGB as well as the use of Indian medical facilities in difficult areas along the border by BGB personnel deployed in the area.

The Indian home minister recalled the “excellent and friendly” bilateral relations between the countries and expressed deep satisfaction over the ratification of the India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement of 1974 and its Protocol of 2011 last year.

He welcomed the timely completion of all aspects of the Agreement.

They were also happy with the regular meetings between the District Deputy Commissioners and District Magistrates of border districts that, they believed, would help resolve issues pertaining to border areas.