BGB-BSF annual talks begin in New Delhi today

NEW DELHI, Mar 8 (BSS): Bangladesh is likely to hand over a list of persons wanted by it to India and raise the issue of killing of its civilians by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) along the frontier when the chiefs of border guards of the two countries begin their annual talks here tomorrow (Wednesday). The 20-member delegation of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) led by Major General Rafiqul Islam will also seek information from the BSF about action taken on the list given earlier at the border guard-level meeting, sources said. Joint patrolling of the border and a check on subversive activities will also come up for discussion at the five-day meeting. Director General of BSF Raman Srivastava will lead the 21-member Indian delegation. Sources involved in the talks said while BGB is expected to bring up issues like shooting incidents along the border and killing of Bangladeshi people, the BSF will put stress on issues of better patrolling and vigilance on the border. The talks will also focus on preventing cross-border terrorist movement, trafficking of women, children and contrabands, joint management of border pillars, fencing within 150m of the international border and smuggling. A joint memorandum will be signed by them on March 12. Bangladesh and India share a 4,096-kilometre border and the last talks were held in Dhaka in 2010.