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Dhaka, Delhi for jt border control

Home secy-level talks end


FE REPORT | February 28, 2021 00:00:00


Bangladesh and India reiterated their full commitment to the effective functioning of the coordinated border management plan to check illegal cross-border acts.

Both the next-door neighbours made this pledge once again at the 19th home secretary-level talks hosted virtually on Saturday.

The talks reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral security and frontier cooperation, according to a statement issued by Indian home ministry.

Dhaka and New Delhi also agreed to work closely to fulfil the shared vision of the leadership of the two countries.

Mostafa Kamal Uddin, senior secretary, public security division under home ministry, led the Bangladesh delegation and Ajay Kumar Bhalla, union home secretary, the Indian side.

"India and Bangladesh attach highest importance to their bilateral relations. Both secretaries reiterated their commitment to further expand and strengthen mutual cooperation in security and border-related issues," said the statement.

Both sides reaffirmed not to allow the territory of either country to be used for any activity inimical to each other's interests, it mentioned.

The talks discussed early completion of the pending fencing along the Indo-Bangladesh border as agreed by the prime ministers of the two countries.

In the meeting, both sides accentuated mutual cooperation and the action taken to address the menace of terrorism and extremism in an effective manner.

The holding of the inaugural police chiefs' dialogue in January 2021 in line with a decision taken by home ministers in August 2019, was noted with appreciation by both sides.

The official statement said both sides agreed to further enhance the level of cooperation to prevent the smuggling of fake Indian currency notes and contraband.

"Bangladesh appreciated assistance provided by India in the field of training and capacity building for various security agencies," it added.

Saturday's meeting was held against the backdrop of 'Mujib Barsho' and 50 years of the Bangladesh Liberation War and establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, said officials.

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