India extends support to Bangladesh in reconstructing BDR

New Delhi, Apr 1 (ANI); Extending its support to the neighbouring Bangladesh, New Delhi on Wednesday said that it will ensure that any of the "recalcitrant elements" of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) do not cross over to India.

Addressing a joint press conference with BDR chief Brigadier-General Mainul Islam here today, BSF Director General M L Kumawat said, "We have expressed our full support to the Bangladesh government and BDR in restructuring the force."

"We will ensure that BDR recalcitrant elements do not enter into India at any cost and if any one caught we would hand them over to Bangladesh," added Kumawat.

Appreciating the BSF forces for showing "prudence and wisdom" at the borders since the tragic mutiny by the BDR on February 26 and 27, which left over 77 Bangladeshi army officers dead, Mainul Islam urged them to continue performing their duties diligently.

"The BSF has shown prudence and wisdom during the (BDR mutiny) crisis. It has been dealing the whole matter with wisdom and we expect them to do so in the future," Islam told reporters in New Delhi.

He informed that three separate investigations on the BDR mutiny is continuing and the miscreants would be brought to justice.

Islam, who led a six-member delegation for 29th Border Coordination Conference, was speaking after signing a Joint Record of Discussions with Kumawat in New Delhi.

The two nations discussed on several issues including border management. They also came upon a decision to make effective joint efforts to prevent trans-border crimes including illegal movements across the border, trafficking of women and children, smuggling of drugs, arms and ammunition.

The issue of maintenance of boundary pillars along the Indo-Bangla border was also considered during the three-day meet held from March 30 to April 1. (ANI)