The Border Security Force and Bangladesh Rifles decided on Tuesday to increase their coordinated patrolling and agreed on a set of confidence-building measures, even as the Indian side handed over a list of 172 insurgent training camps in that country, demanding they be shut down.
The two border forces, which began their three day bi-annual director general-level meeting in New Delhi, discussed the issue of fencing by India, which is opposed by Bangladesh. They also deliberated upon ways to keep the situation along the 4095 km-long border calm.
"We will have more coordinated patrolling," BDR Director General Major General Jehangir Alam Choudhury told reporters about the outcome of the first day's talks. Choudhury, flanked by his BSF counterpart, R S Mooshahary, was speaking after calling on Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil.
Mooshahary said the two sides had discussed certain CBMs and agreed that skirmishes like the recent one in Malda area of West Bengal, should be avoided. The talks covered fencing and checking of cross-border migration and smuggling, the BSF chief said.
Sources told PTI that the Indian side handed over a list of 172 camps of north-east insurgent groups existing in Bangladesh and demanded these be closed. Significantly, the number is 18 less than that cited by India during the last meeting with BDR six months go. "Apparently some action has been taken by the Bangladesh against the insurgents," the sources said.
Asked about the Indian contention on training camps in Bangladesh, Choudhury claimed there were none and it was 'only a creation of the media'. He maintained that his country will never allow its territory to be used for any activity against India.
"A criminal is a criminal. He has no nationality," the BDR chief said, insisting that Dhaka will take action against anybody indulging in anti-India activities.
He said Bangladesh also believes that 'India is harbouring criminals', a charge rejected by New Delhi. The two sides agreed that innocent people should not become victims and action must be concentrated against criminals.
During the talks, BSF raised the issue of fencing, which is being opposed by BDR in certain areas where India proposes to erect the barricade within 150 yards (about 200 metres) of the zero line.
Bangladesh argues that erection of the fence within 150 yards of the zero line violates the 1975 Boundary Agreement between the two countries, which stipulates that no barricade can be set up by either country within this distance of the border.
Rejecting Bangladesh's contention, India insists that in certain areas along the 4095-km long border, the fence had to be erected within the 150-yard strip because of topographical and technical reasons.
The issue of killing of BSF officer Jeewan Kumar in April, allegedly by BDR personnel in Tripura, will also be raised by India to seek an account of action taken.
Besides top officials of the border guards, delegations of both sides include representatives from the Ministries of Home and External Affairs.
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