NEW DELHI: India and Bangladesh today agreed on expeditious repatriation of the fishermen who stray into each other's territorial waters.
The agreement was reached at a meeting visiting Bangladesh Chief of Army Staff Gen Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq had with Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
The issue of fishermen drifting unwittingly into each other's territorial waters was discussed at the meeting and it was agreed that the return of such people to their respective countries should be expedited, an official statement said.
The Home Minister appreciated the cordial implementation of the Land Boundary Agreement between the two countries.
On the issue of people of enclaves exchanged under LBA wanting to shift to India by disposing off their immovable property, it was pointed out by the Bangladesh delegation that the joint working group of the two countries is seized of the matter.
Such people will be helped by the respective Deputy Commissioners to enable them to sell their immovable property at remunerative market prices.
Singh told Gen Huq that the age-old strong relations between India and Bangladesh are based on mutual understanding and confidence.
The two countries are able to resolve issues amicably and the cultural and socio-economic relations are growing rapidly, he said.
Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, Secretary (Border Management) Anoop Kumar Srivastava, senior officers of the Home Ministry and Bangladesh High commission were also present in the meeting.