Transit, border killings glossed over as Delhi talks end
Saturday, 19 July 2008
The foreign secretary-level talks between Bangladesh and India ended Friday in New Delhi with both sides expressing satisfaction over its outcome, and Indian transit taking a back seat, the foreign adviser said, reports bdnews24.com.
Dhaka and Delhi agreed, perhaps predictably, to boost cooperation in fighting terrorism and curbing the smuggling of arms, drugs and fake currencies, according to reports from the Indian capital.
The controversial issue of Indian transit did not get much weight, nor did the matter of border killings, Iftekhar said.
Bangladesh foreign secretary Md Touhid Hossain, before departing for Delhi to meet his Indian counterpart, said Wednesday that the deaths of Bangladesh Rifles personnel by India's Border Security Force in 'border skirmishes' would be one of the issues at the talks.
When asked whether Friday's border incident-in which two BDR men were shot dead by BSF with at least one reported BSF casualty-had affected the outcome of the talks in New Delhi, the foreign adviser said: "It would not be appropriate to comment at this time."
"We are all happy about the outcome of the foreign office consultation," Iftekhar told the news agency Friday night.
"I have had talks with the foreign secretary and the high commissioner in Delhi. They briefed me about their discussions with the Indian side," he said.
Bangladesh at the talks requested India to reach an agreement on sharing water of the common rivers, especially the Teesta, in the water-scarce northern part of the country, according to a previous statement issued by the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi.
But the two sides ended up agreeing only to convening of the relevant technical committees to carry on the work in this regard, said the statement.
Touhid Hossain also requested greater access of Bangladeshi exports to India and for measures to reduce the $1.9 billion trade gap, the Bangladesh High Commission said Thursday in its official statement on the talks.
Touhid also requested his Indian counterpart to expedite the export of the remaining 5 lakh tonnes of rice to Bangladesh, and also to consider complete withdrawal of restrictions on rice export by India.
Dhaka and Delhi agreed, perhaps predictably, to boost cooperation in fighting terrorism and curbing the smuggling of arms, drugs and fake currencies, according to reports from the Indian capital.
The controversial issue of Indian transit did not get much weight, nor did the matter of border killings, Iftekhar said.
Bangladesh foreign secretary Md Touhid Hossain, before departing for Delhi to meet his Indian counterpart, said Wednesday that the deaths of Bangladesh Rifles personnel by India's Border Security Force in 'border skirmishes' would be one of the issues at the talks.
When asked whether Friday's border incident-in which two BDR men were shot dead by BSF with at least one reported BSF casualty-had affected the outcome of the talks in New Delhi, the foreign adviser said: "It would not be appropriate to comment at this time."
"We are all happy about the outcome of the foreign office consultation," Iftekhar told the news agency Friday night.
"I have had talks with the foreign secretary and the high commissioner in Delhi. They briefed me about their discussions with the Indian side," he said.
Bangladesh at the talks requested India to reach an agreement on sharing water of the common rivers, especially the Teesta, in the water-scarce northern part of the country, according to a previous statement issued by the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi.
But the two sides ended up agreeing only to convening of the relevant technical committees to carry on the work in this regard, said the statement.
Touhid Hossain also requested greater access of Bangladeshi exports to India and for measures to reduce the $1.9 billion trade gap, the Bangladesh High Commission said Thursday in its official statement on the talks.
Touhid also requested his Indian counterpart to expedite the export of the remaining 5 lakh tonnes of rice to Bangladesh, and also to consider complete withdrawal of restrictions on rice export by India.