Recognising that terrorism remains one of the most significant threats to peace and stability in the region, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangaldeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina expressed strong commitment to combat the menace jointly.
India and Bangladesh already have a strong security cooperation, particularly on terrorism and radicalisation. In their joint statement, Modi and Hasina expressed satisfaction at the extent of cooperation between the two countries on security related issues. They expressed determination to take further step up cooperation and coordination among law enforcement, intelligence and security organisations of both countries and reiterated commitment to ensure that their respective territories would not be allowed to be used for any activities inimical to the other.
“They strongly condemned the recent barbaric terror attacks in India and Bangladesh and expressed conviction that the fight against terrorism should not only seek to disrupt and eliminate terrorists, terror organisations and networks, but should also identify, hold accountable and take strong measures against States and entities which encourage, support and finance terrorism, provide sanctuary to terrorists and terror groups, and falsely extol their virtues. They shared the view that there should be no glorification of terrorists as martyrs,” the joint statement said.
They called on the international community to end selective approach to combating terrorism and, in this regard, jointly called for the early finalization and adoption of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism by the United Nations General Assembly.
Modi and Hasina also expressed satisfaction at the robust bilateral security cooperation that exists between the two countries. They underscored the need for effective operationalisation of the bilateral Extradition Treaty and, in this regard, welcomed the addendum signed during the visit of Home Minister of Bangladesh to India in July 2016. India and Bangladesh has taken huge steps in checking smuggling and circulation of fake currency notes and narcotics.
The two PMs also expressed that effective implementation of the Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) would enable better border management to jointly manage the identified vulnerable areas, irregular movement, incidents of violence and tragic loss of lives and ensure a border free of criminal activities. Both PMs reiterated that the number of deaths at the border must be brought down to zero and directed the concerned authorities to work towards that end. Both leaders welcomed the SOPs signed between the Indian Border Security Force and the Border Guard Bangladesh to allow use of Indian border roads for construction and maintenance of Border Posts of Border Guard Bangladesh as well as use of medical facilities in remote border stretches.
Similarly, in the defence sector, the two leaders agreed to foster deeper cooperation through greater military-to-military training and exchanges. Both leaders agreed that enhanced connectivity between the two countries will boost people to people contacts as well as promote tourism, trade and investment flows. In the trade sector, Hasina drew Modi’s attention to recent imposition of anti-dumping duties by Indian authorities on export of Jute from Bangladesh and requested him to review this decision. India assured that it would look into the matter. Bangladesh also assured India to consider India’s request for doing away with the discriminatory regime of ‘Minimum Import Price’ in respect of import of certain products from India to Bangladesh.