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Download PDF Bangladesh and India agreed to examine the possibility of quickly instituting a mechanism to combat terrorism and organised crime that often spill over the 4200km porous border the countries share as security figured high in the home secretary-level meeting.
Delegations of the two neighbouring countries yesterday concluded the four-day talks with agreement on holding regular meetings between their border forces, and joint media briefings by their local commanders, if ‘an incident’ takes place, “to ensure that truth is known to both sides”.
It was decided that the Joint Boundary Working Group (JBWG) will visit the enclaves and areas under adverse possession ‘at an early date’.
Home Secretary Safar Raj Hossain led the Bangladesh side while his counterpart VK Duggal the Indian side at the 7th meeting of its kind that reached several agreements without setting any precise mechanisms or dates for their implementation.
“Both sides agreed that terrorism posed a threat to both the countries and that there was a need to cooperate closely to tackle this menace,” said the Indian home secretary as he was reading out the joint press statement after the meeting at State Guest House Meghna.
The two sides agreed to examine the possibility of instituting a bilateral mechanism for combating terrorism and organised crime, he said.
The talks took place in an atmosphere of utmost cordiality, candour and friendship, Duggal, flanked by his Bangladeshi counterpart, said.
The two sides reiterated their commitment to full implementation of the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) 1974, he added.
To avoid untoward incidents and resolve situations arising out of such incidents, the two sides agreed to exercise utmost restraint along the Bangladesh-India border and avail themselves of the existing institutional mechanism.
The delegations agreed on the need to sensitise their border forces, populace along the border and the media to maintain peace and tranquillity along the border.
As the Indian delegation drew attention of Bangladesh side to the drafts of ‘Extradition Treaty’, ‘Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters’ and ‘Bilateral Agreement on Combating International Terrorism, Organised Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking’, the Bangladesh side said they would give their reply ‘at an early date’.
The delegations underscored the need for greater vigilance and cooperation between the two countries to prevent illegal movement of goods and people, flow of illicit drugs, narcotics, arms and explosives across the border and smuggling of fake currencies.
Agreeing to comply with the Revised Travel Arrangements (RTA) to promote people-to-people interaction, the two sides looked forward to the next meeting of the RTA to be held at an early date to finalise a more liberal RTA.
Both sides agreed on holding regular meetings at all levels for effective border management.
“It was fully recognised that the betterment of bilateral relations was in the vital interest of both countries. Towards this end, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhance cooperation and work closely in all spheres of bilateral relations,” Duggal said.
Neither of the delegation chiefs replied to any single question from the media personnel who had been waiting for over three and a half hours for the briefing.
The next home secretary-level meeting will be held in New Delhi next year.
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