India plans to raise the issue of piracy, criminal activities in Sunderbans along with discussing fundamentalists and terror organisations operating from Bangladesh during the Home Secretary-level talks with Bangladesh in Dhaka.
A 13-member Indian delegation, headed by Home Secretary Anil Goswami, comprising officials from Border Security Force, North East Division and Internal Security, is in Dhaka for the three-day 15th Home Secretary-level meeting, which began on Tuesday. The meeting is expected to focus on cross-border crimes, land boundary agreement, extraditions, counter-terror initiatives and smoothening cross-border movement of people and goods.
Sources said that in view of growing cases of kidnapping of fishermen and other people by robbers in the Sunderbans area, India plans to discuss with its counterpart a joint strategy to deal with the menace since poaching, piracy and pushing of illegal arms and insurgents through Sunderbans riverine is becoming a major headache for India. This is the first time India will raise this issue with Bangladesh.
Besides, detailed discussions to activate Phulbari (in West Bengal) as a new immigration check post is also on the agenda. Phulbari is already land border crossing for vehicles from Banglabandha in Bangladesh. This point also serves as Nepal-Bangladesh transit point. However, lack of immigration point is felt to be hampering trade on this route. The Indian Home Secretary is also likely to raise the issue of fundamentalists using Bangladesh soil to carry out anti-India activities during discussions with his counterpart Mozammel Haque Khan.
Extradition of UlFA general secretary Anup Chetia, who is in the custody of Bangladesh, will also figure during the talks. Chetia is in detention in Bangladesh and a Bangladeshi High Court is hearing his plea seeking political asylum in the country.
India is expected to raise the issue of insurgents and other illegal elements reported to be hiding in Bangladesh. While Bangladesh also would seek handing over of its wanted elements lodged in Indian jails. It is learnt that Bangladesh is likely to request India for extradition of Nur Hossain, the alleged mastermind of the seven murders in Narayanganj, Subrata Bain and Sajjad Hossain, allegedly involved in grenade attack in a Awami league rally in Dhaka.