B''desh-India ink key protocols on security cooperation

Anisur Rahman

Dhaka, Jan 13 (PTI) Bangladesh and India today inkedthree crucial protocols making effective earlier pacts onsecurity cooperation and exchange of prisoners of respectivecountries signed during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina�slandmark New Delhi visit last year.

"With the signing of the protocols, the threeagreements on Transfer of Sentenced Persons, Mutual LegalAssistance in Criminal Matters, and Combating InternationalTerrorism, Organised Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking cameinto effect from today," a Home Ministry spokesman said in thecapital.

He told reporters that Home Secretary Abdus SobhanSikder and Indian High Commissioner Rajeet Mitter signed theprotocols on behalf of their respective governments at theHome Ministry.

The agreements were signed during Hasina�s maidenIndia visit in January 2010.

Under the prisoners transfer agreement, Bangladeshiand Indian prisoners serving in each others jails could beexchanged to serve the rest of their terms in prisons of theirown country.

Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, however, earlier negatedthe idea of extraditing jailed Indian separatist leader AnupChetia of ULFA under the agreement.

She had said the deal would be applied for only thosewho "are willing to serve the rest of their terms in their owncountries�.

"I think the ULFA leaders will not come under thepurview of the treaty," she had said.