Sec-level Indo-Bangladesh border talks end

Dhaka, Aug 27: India and Bangladesh have agreed to ''examine the possibility'' of quickly instituting a bilateral mechanism to combat terrorism and organised crime at the four-day Home secretary- level meeting that concluded here today.

The two countries at the meeting renewed commitment to full implementation of 1974 Land Boundary Agreement and exercise utmost restraint along the common border to avoid any untoward incident.

It was agreed upon at the meeting that Indian and Bangladeshi officials would jointly visit the enclaves and territories in adverse possession at an ''early date'' without prejudice to each other's positions.

Home Secretary V K Duggal and his Bangladeshi counterpart Safar Raj Hossain led their respective delegations to the 7th meeting held at State Guesthouse Meghna.

A host of ''agreements'' were reached during the 4-day meeting that began on August 24, without setting any precise mechanisms or dates for their implementations.

Mr Duggal, flanked by his counterpart Safar Raj Hossain, read out a joint press statement on outcome of the meeting but both the secretaries refrained from answering any question from the media personnel.

The Indian side handed over the drafts of three deals on Extradition Treaty, Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters and Bilateral Agreement on Combating International Terrorism, Organised Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking.

However, in response Bangladesh side said it would revert at an early date.

Regarding peaceful border management, the two countries agreed on sensitising their border forces, populace along the border and the media, to maintain peace and tranquility along the India- Bangladesh border, the statement said.

''It was agreed upon by both sides that the maintenance of a peaceful and tranquil border was a shared responsibility of both countries,'' the statement added.

The two sides agreed to hold regular meetings between the border forces and joint media briefings by their respective local commanders.

Mr Duggal, who earlier told reporters on his arrival here that the officials of the Joint Boundary Working Group would visit the disputed enclaves and lands in adverse possession in the two countries in a month or so, today, could not spell out the dates of the visit. On being asked by a mediaperson, Mr Duggal said the visit will take place ''Very soon.'' Both sides agreed for excreting ''utmost restraint'' along the India-Bangladesh border to avoid any untoward incident and avail of the existing institutional mechanism to resolve the situation.

The meeting called for greater vigilance and cooperation between the two countries, to prevent illegal movement of goods, people, illicit drugs, narcotics and explosives across the border and tackle the smuggling of fake currencies.

The two sides agreed that Revised Travel Arrangements (RTA) would be adhered to promote people-to-people interaction and the next meeting of the RTA to be held at an early date would finalise a more liberal RTA.

Both sides agreed on holding regular meetings at all relevant levels towards effective border management.

The talks took place in an atmosphere of utmost ''cordiality, candor and friendship,'' saying that India and Bangladesh enjoyed ''the friendliest'' of bilateral relations that were multifaceted and rich in both content and scope, media reports said.

''It was fully recognised that the betterment of bilateral relations was in vital interest of both countries. Towards this end, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhance cooperation and work closely in all spheres of bilateral relations,'' the reports added.

Earlier, the two Home Secretaries formally exchanged notes of the meeting. The next Home Secretary level meeting will be held in New Delhi next year.

UNI

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