Bangladesh News

Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) will bring up the issue of killings of Bangladeshis by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) at the director general (DG)-level talks with BSF beginning in Dhaka tomorrow.

BDR will also raise the issue of the killings of its three members by BSF on Chapainawabganj border and urge its counterpart to refrain from such activities at the four-day-long talks, previously scheduled to begin today, at the BDR Headquarters, said BDR sources.

“Whenever we raise the issue of firings and killings by BSF, they (BSF) assure us of looking into the matter. But practically nothing is done,” said a BDR official preferring anonymity.

“The issues of intrusion of Indian nationals and border guards into Bangladesh territory will also be discussed at the meeting,” added the BDR official.

BDR will discuss with the Indian border guards violation of border rules, detention of Bangladeshis in India and combating cross-border drug smuggling.

BDR will also put forward the issue of BSF’s intervention in the development activities of BDR inside Bangladesh territory and push-in of Bangla-speaking Indian nationals into Bangladesh.

Home ministry officials said at the conference, Dhaka would ask New Delhi not to give shelter to Bangladeshi criminals hiding in India.

In the previous conference held in New Delhi in April this year, BDR provided its counterpart with a list of Bangladeshi criminals, who have taken shelter in India.

BDR Director General Maj Gen Shakil Ahmed will lead the 22-member Bangladesh side while his counterpart AK Mitra will lead the Indian side at the conference.

Officials of the home and land ministries and the Bangladesh-India Joint River Commission will also attend the conference.