COLOMBO, Jul 31 (UNB): Bangladesh Thursday urged India to inquire into recent border shooting incidents as 125 Bangladeshi civilians have been killed by Indian BSF troops in past six months.
Foreign Advisor Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury made the call during a bilateral meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on the sidelines of the SAARC Council of Ministers at Bandarnaek Memorial International Convention Hall.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Iftekhar observed such incidents along the border severely damage perception of relationships.
He was assured by the Indian Minister that all such incidents would be enquired into with a view to preventing their recurrence.
"Talks were fruitful," the Foreign Advisor said, adding that they expressed satisfaction over the successful conclusion of the recent Foreign Secretary-level meeting between the two countries.
The two sides underscored the need for regular meetings of the various mechanisms set up to address bilateral issues, including the one on the sharing of common rivers' waters.
Iftekhar requested Pranab for the speedier delivery of the balance quantity of rice and for the possibility of further future procurement on favourable terms, if needed, which his Indian counterpart assured would be considered.
The Advisor raised the possibility of a common SAARC approach to protecting the rights and welfare of South Asian workers abroad.
He also raised the question of whether it was possible to have structured consultations among senior military officers under SAARC umbrella and said Bangladesh would raise both the issues in the forthcoming meetings.
Pranab Mukherjee thought both ideas merited consideration.
They also agreed to cooperate bilaterally on counterterrorism-a global concern of the present times.
Both sides agreed on the need to energise SAARC to address current issues such as food security, energy, trade, and climate change.
