India asks Bangladesh to curb militants, illegal migration

New Delhi, Jun 3 (UNI) India has expressed concern over a number of terrorists taking shelter in Bangladesh and sought the neighbouring country's cooperation in checking the flow of illegal migrants.

The Joint Working Group of India and Bangladesh met here on May 29 and 30 at which involvement of militant organisations, based in Bangladesh, in terror activities were highlighted. The involvement of Bangladesh based HuJI in various terror attacks, especially in the recent Jaipur blasts, was pointed out to the Bangladesh delegation, Home Ministry sources said here today.

Many of the militant groups have hideout in Bangladesh where they go after perpetrating crime in India. The measures to check the flow of illegal Bangladeshi migrants were also discussed by JWG.

The Indian delegation led by Joint Secretary Naveen Verma stressed the need for allowing fencing with in the 0 to 150 meters near the Indo-Bangla border which the neighbouring country is opposing.

Enhancing police cooperation between the two countries to check border crimes also came up for discussion. They also deliberated on checking smuggling along the border.

The Joint Working Group has met after five-year gap and it has been reactivated following discussion at the Home Secretary level talks held between the two countries in August 2007. The JWG talks, in which Bangladesh delegation was led by Mr Maksumul Hakim Chowdhury, discussed the ground realities and operational issues which needed to be decided at the Home Secretary level talks and even at the highest level, the sources said.

India and Bangladesh have a three-tier mechanism to discuss the issues of mutual concerns including JWG, BSF-BDR meeting and the Home Secretary level talks.

UNI AJ SP HT1917