NEW DELHI: Border management issues like curbing movement of Rohingya refugees, smuggling of fake Indian currency notes, narcotics and human trafficking among others will figure prominently during the DG level talks between Border Security Force and Border Guards Bangladesh from Tuesday.
“A delegation led by Maj Gen Abul Hossain DG Border Guards Bangladesh is in Delhi for DG level talks (2-5 Oct) on issues of border management,” the BSF tweeted.
“Delegates of BGB and BSF along with Narcotics Control Bureau, Ministry of External Affairs and Surveyor General of India and corresponding agencies from Bangladesh will discuss issues of human trafficking, FICN smuggling, cattle smuggling, drugs smuggling, single row fencing, development works along the frontier and other issues related to Border Management,” a senior BSF official said.
Talks between the BSF and BGB are a bi-annual feature and this meet is the 45th edition of such conference between the two border guarding forces.
Maj Gen Abul Hossain is leading a 24-member delegation that arrived here on Monday. The Bangladeshi side will hold formal talks with the Indian team led by BSF Director General KK Sharma at the BSF headquarters here.
During the talks, both the sides are expected to delve on the recent incidents of movement of Rohingya Muslims across the border between the two countries.
“Curbing illegal crossing and taking measures to contain it may be part of the talks,” a senior official said when asked if the Rohingya issue is part of the official agenda of the talks.
While the Indian side will take up the issue of high quality FICN being smuggled from Bangladesh, Dhaka is expected to raise the issue of pumping of cough syrups into its territory by the dubious business syndicates.
The talks will also include discussions on trans-border crimes, including cattle smuggling and human trafficking besides activities of Indian insurgent groups based in Bangladesh, prevention of illegal migration, joint efforts for effective implementation of agreed agenda programmes, officials said.
The two sides will also take stock of the issues that were discussed when a BSF delegation visited Bangladesh in February this year.
"The relations between the two forces are very cordial and the aim of these talks is to take them forward," officials said, adding the meet help in further cementing the confidence building measures between the two sides.
The two sides will also review the progress of the single -row fence being erected to secure over 250 villages ahead of the existing barbed-wire fence along the International Border to curb cross-border crimes and instil a sense of security among the inhabitants of the area.
India has 4,096-km international boundary with Bangladesh.