Bangladesh will not be used for terror activities: BDR chief

New Delhi, Mar11 (ANI): Bangladesh on Thursday reiterated that its soil would not be used for terrorist activities against any country.

Addressing a joint press conference with Border Security Force Chief Raman Srivastav here, the Bangladesh Rifles Chief Major General Mohammad Mainul Islam said: "Our Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, has declared that Bangladesh land will not be allowed to use for terrorist activities. We are implementing these words on ground."

When questioned about the reports of terrorist camps operating in Bangladesh, Maj.Gen Mainul Islam said: "My government has a big responsibility to ensure the security and development of the people. We have no time and space to harbor terrorists on our land. We have already learnt lessons from others mistakes."

"There are certain grey areas where the presence of the BDR is very low. We are in the process of modernizing the force and will increase our presence in the grey areas to ensure no terror group can operate from our land," he added.

The four-day-long BSF-BDR conference agreed to prevent criminal elements from misusing dark patches of borders.

"We have come across incidents of cattle smuggling, movement of people along the border especially during darkness. We have discussed the matter in detail in this meeting and action will be initiated," Srivastav said.

"On the Indian side there are some parts along the border left unfenced, we are taking action and it will be fence soon. And we have also decided to put flood light along the border for better observation and to prevent criminals from taking advantage of darkness," he added.

Srivastav further said that the question of "Zero" line is still pending, and it has been discussed during the Home Secretary level talks also.

Commenting on cross border firing, Maj Gen Mainul Islam said: "We should not be worried about such incidents. It's a matter of concern to both sides. We have discussed the matter and will ensure that no innocent people will be killed."

"We have a history of movement of people and cattle trafficking during darkness, will ensure to limit such activities along border," he added.

Srivastav said the BSF would also ensure that no innocent is killed by firing.

"We have no right to shoot and kill innocent people. We will ensure that such incidents do not to occur in the future," Srivastav said.

The India-Bangladesh Border Coordination Conference is held twice a year, once in Dhaka and the other in New Delhi.

The conference also discussed measures to be adopted to develop force-to-force relations.

The BSF is assisting the BDR in its modernizing process.

The nearly 4,096 kilometers-long India-Bangladesh border is one of the most difficult to patrol owing to reasons of topography, riverine patches, dense forested hills, agricultural lands and human settlements.

The porous nature of the border has led to numerous trans-border problems including infiltration, smuggling, of arms and drugs, contraband goods, illegal movement of persons, and crimes such as kidnapping for ransom, cattle lifting, extortion etc. By Shreeraj Gudi (ANI)