India and Bangladesh have agreed to launch joint training for better border management, said Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) chief Major General Aziz Ahmed on Tuesday.
The BGB director general (DG) also said there is no existence of any insurgent or terror group in Bangladesh as the country never allows any such group to use its soil against other countries.
“No terror group or terrorist is allowed to use Bangladesh’s soil. Bangladesh had never allowed it in the past…it’s not allowing now and will never do it. Our policy is very clear,” he told reporters at a press conference at the BGB headquarters in Dhaka.
Aziz Ahmed, however, said they have got information from the Indian side, which will be examined properly, and conveyed Bangladesh’s firm stance against possible operation of insurgent groups to the Indian side.
The BGB DG came up with the remark at a press conference at its Pilkhana Headquarters in the city when a questioner drew his attention saying India has handed over a list of 71 camps of Indian insurgent groups reportedly operating in Bangladesh.
The press conference was arranged to let media know the outcome of the just-held BGB-BSF (Border Security Force) DG-level meeting in New Delhi.
Felani Issue
The BGB DG said he wanted to know the progress over the fresh trial of the 2011 killing of a teenage Bangladeshi girl, Felani Khatun, by BSF members.
In response, the Indian side reassured Bangladesh of speedy conclusion of the trial saying the process is on.
He also said the Bangladesh side is ready to produce father and maternal aunt of Felani to court as part of reinvestigation process if the Indian side confirms time and place.
Delivering a verdict in the murder case, a special court in the Indian state of West Bengal had acquitted the accused BSF constable of shooting Felani. Her family rejected the trial. As BGB too opposed the investigation and the subsequent trial conducted by BSF, a fresh trial was ordered.
Border Killings
Both Bangladesh and India reiterated their stance on bringing down crimes and killings along the border to zero level.
They emphasised measures like increasing vigilance in areas vulnerable to cattle smuggling, intensifying coordinated patrols at night and deployment of quick reaction teams along the border to end border killings.
The BGB DG said they, during the meeting, discussed proper implementation of Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) designed to curb trans-border crimes like smuggling of drugs and narcotics, including Phensidyl, fake currency notes, gold and cattle.
Aziz said they had a meeting with Indian Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and conveyed him what they discussed at the DG-level meeting.
Quoting the Indian Union Home Minister, then BGB DG said Indian policy on issues relating to effective border management will remain unchanged and they want to strengthen it further.
He also said both sides agreed to hold the next DG-level meeting in December in Dhaka.
Source: Prothom Alo
