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Download PDF India and Bangladesh yesterday signed an agreement to make joint efforts to tackle cross-border crimes like arms smuggling and trafficking of women and children by sharing timely and actionable information.
“The agreement will help to end any suspicion and distrust prevailing on ground level,” Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) Director General Maj Gen Shakil Ahmed told reporters after signing the agreement with the DG of the Indian Border Security Forces (BSF) A K Mitra.
The BDR and BSF wrapped up their biennial five-day conference in New Delhi agreeing to jointly deal with trafficking of women and children, smuggling of arms and counterfeit currency through sharing information by sector commanders.
Mitra said the agreement would help both BSF and BDR to expedite decisions.
He said the sector commanders would take pro-active steps to resolve the problems of local population in border areas.
Ahmed said BDR was committed to making the border secure and peaceful.
Asked about the recent firing incidents between the two forces in the North Bengal region, Ahmed said Bangladesh wanted a peaceful border and such incidents have come down significantly in recent times.
“Neither BDR nor BSF have any intention to fire at each other,” he said.
He added that he was for joint patrolling by BSF and BDR to check border crimes and increased bonhomie between the two forces.
On the issue of development of infrastructure facilities within 150 yards of international boundary pertaining to land ports, immigration check posts and land custom stations, Ahmed suggested the restriction of 150 yards be waived in view of growing trade ties between the two countries.
The next DG level meeting between the two forces will be held in Dhaka in September.
In the conference, BSF emphasised on the need for reciprocal action from Bangladesh regarding handing over listed Indian criminals arrested in Bangladesh, including insurgent leaders, issued with Interpol red corner notice.
India recently handed over some wanted Bangladeshi criminals to Dhaka.
On the possibility of extraditing ULFA general secretary Anup Chetia, who is in a Dhaka jail, to India, the BDR chief said there was no extradition treaty between the two countries at present. Besides, some cases against Chetia are still ongoing in Bangladeshi courts.
“Unless and until the court takes a decision, we cannot hand over him to India,” Ahmed said.
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