Indo-B'desh border conference begins with issues on table

Dhaka, Aug 21 (UNI) Border conference between Bangladesh and India today began at BDR headquarters here to discuss a long list of contentious issues between the two neighbours.

Indian Border Security Force (BSF) Director General Ashish Kumar Mitra is heading a 19-member delegation, while Director General of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) Major General Shakil Ahmed is leading a 22-member team.

The conference will conclude with the signing of a Joint Record of Discussion (JRD) on August 25.

Meanwhile, DG Mitra paid a courtesy call on Home Adviser Maj Gen (Retd) MA Matin at the Home Ministry in the afternoon.

During the meeting, bilateral issues came up and both sides emphasised on joint activities in the frontier areas to reduce trans-border crimes, said a Home Ministry official.

The Home Adviser appreciated BSF's role in Bangladesh's War of Liberation in 1971, the official added.

Indian High Commissioner in Bangladesh Pinak Ranjan Chakrabarty and other senior officials were also present in the conference.

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