BDR's friendship visit to India on I-Day eve

Silchar, Aug 14 (UNI) Bangladesh Rifles' Sylhet sector commander Col Abul Hussain today said the traditional definition of border security encompossing arms, ammunition and troops was obsolete in the changing regional scenario.

Talking to newspersons at Sutarkandi in Karimganj district of Assam, he said "nowadays international border should hum and buzz" with economic activities, adding economic security should be defined as the real security.

The BDR sector commander categorically said there was no incident of infiltration into India from Sylhet area of Bangladesh in particular.

Bangladeshi troops were very clear about it and the BDR was also careful to maintain vigil in this sector so that no Bangladeshi national could enter the Indian territory illegally, said Col Hussain.

A delegation of BDR officials, led by Col Hussain, today visited Karimganj in response to an invitation by BSF as a gesture of friendship on the eve of India's Independence Day.

The BDR, responsible for guarding Bangladesh border, had proposed to work jointly with its Indian counterpart in containing incidents of crime along the international border, Col Hussain said and alleged that miscreants and smugglers from both countries were involved in the incidents of crimes along the borders.

'' Therefore effort by a single country could not contain the situation, ''he said, adding it warranted a joint operation to root out such crimes on both sides of the border.

Col Hussain told the Indian authorities to inform the BDR whenever a militant or miscreant from India took shelter on Bangladeshi soil.

'' We are ready to trace him out and hand over to India, '' he added.

He, however, agreed that Bangladesh's international border with India was not foolproof.

There were incidents of cattle smuggling from India, he alleged and said efforts on behalf of the BDR were, however, on to stop it.

UNI