The two-day long Home Secretary level talks between India and Bangladesh that concluded here on Wednesday decided to resume the regular meeting of District Magistrates of bordering areas to resolve the problems faced by the local population. Both countries also agreed to enhance the cooperation in border management and deployment of troops of Bangladesh in unguarded border areas, particularly along the areas in Tripura and Mizoram.
The high-level team led by Union Home Secretary lC Goyal and his Bangladesh counterpart Mozammel Haque Khan, Sneh lata Kumar, Secretary, Border Management and BSF chief DK Pathak later appraised Home Minister Rajnath Singh about the outcome of the talks.
a“After a long time, the meetings of Deputy Commissioners/District Magistrates of the districts bordering India and Bangladesh have been resumed. Both the countries have expressed satisfaction over these meetings which have proved very fruitful in resolving local issues immediately without following the long process of referring the matters to the respective Central Governments.
“Both the countries have also agreed to resolve the issues concerning fishermen drifting inadvertently across the maritime boundaries. In a gesture of goodwill, both the countries have started sending back fishermen with their boats without losing time,” said the Home Ministry communiqué. Both countries agreed to enhance cooperation in border management and to increase joint patrolling for reducing crimes being committed by criminals and smugglers.
“The Indian delegation appreciated the steps taken by the Bangladesh authorities in acting against the carriers of fake Indian currency notes, and action taken against the Indian Insurgent Groups (IIGs) taking shelter in the bordering areas of Bangladesh. Both the countries also agreed to act against the criminals engaged in human trafficking from Bangladesh to India and other countries,” said Home Ministry.