Bangladesh-India Home Secretary talks in New Delhi

Dhaka, July 31: Bangladesh will raise several outstanding issues at the Home Secretary level talks in New Delhi on August 2-3 including, demarcation of 6.5 km boundary, exchange of enclaves and halting the alleged killing of Bangladeshi citizens along the common border, officials said today.

Home Secretary Abdul Karim will leave for the Indian capital tomorrow to lead a 5-member team to the talks. Earlier, the seventh Home Secretary level meeting was held in Dhaka on August 24 last year.

Home Ministry officials here said at the talks, Dhaka will press for implementation of the 1974 Mujib-Indira Land Boundary Agreement.

Bangladesh ratified the agreement in 1974, but India has not yet ratified it leaving 6.5 kms land boundary undemarcated and the exchange of enclaves and lands in adverse possessions unsettled.

They also said although Bangladesh handed over Berubari to India, India did not hand over the Tin Bigha corridor to Bangladesh in accordance with the agreement. At the meeting in Delhi, Dhaka will seek a 24-hour movement by the Bangladeshi nationals through the corridor.

Besides, Bangladesh will also raise some burning issues like halting the alleged killing of Bangladeshi civilians by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) along the common border, handing over Bangladeshi terrorists hiding in India, human trafficking and smuggling.

UNI