New Delhi – The 14th meeting of the Home Secretaries of India and Bangladesh was held in here from July 19 to July 22 where the two sides discussed a range of issues including border management and security cooperation.The Indian delegation was led by Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami while the Bangladesh delegation was led by Senior Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Q K Mustaq Ahmed.
Home Secretaries noted that the exchange of visits by the Prime Ministers of Bangladesh and India in January 2010 and September 2011 respectively and by the Home Minister of Bangladesh to India in February and December 2012 and the Home Minister of India to Bangladesh in July 2011 and January 2013 had infused a new dynamism in the bilateral relations in general and security cooperation in particular.
They also stated that the bilateral cooperation in the field of security and border management has been strengthened with the signing of four agreements pertaining to security cooperation including the Extradition Treaty.
The two Home Secretaries reaffirmed their commitment not to allow the territory of either country to be used for any activity inimical to each other’s interests.
Both sides expressed satisfaction at the smooth operation of Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) and agreed to increase the frequency of coordinated patrolling with a view to curbing criminal activities along the border.
As an additional measure for better border management, both sides welcomed the recent DC-DM conference between Brahmanbaria district of Bangladesh and West Tripura district of India.
Both the sides also agreed to sensitize the media about ground realities of border management.
The delegations further agreed to intensify the activities of the different nodal points in different areas of cooperation such as human trafficking, drugs, INTERPOL, etc.
Both sides agreed to extend cooperation for the apprehension of wanted criminals and fugitives.
The Bangladesh Home Secretary urged for immediate tracking, arresting, and handing over the killers of Bangabandhu, the father of the nation of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The Indian Home Secretary assured that India will continue to extend all possible assistance in this regard.
Both sides expressed satisfaction at the level of cooperation in the seizure and prevention of trafficking of drugs.
Bangladesh side also appreciated the decision of the Indian Government to invoke the provisions of the NDPS Act to contain the trafficking of Codeine based syrups like Phensedyl.
It was also agreed to expand and strengthen further cooperation in sharing actionable intelligence in real time.
The Home Secretaries noted that the implementation of three agreements (Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons and Combating Terrorism, organized crime and illicit drug trafficking) signed during the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India in 2010 has been satisfactory.
Both the Home Secretaries reviewed the measures taken to expedite the verification and repatriation of prisoners who have completed their sentences.
Both sides welcomed the recent setting up of procedures for transfer of sentenced prisoners and agreed to expedite the process so that nationals who are in each other’s jails could serve remaining period of their sentence in their native country.
Moreover, they discussed the ratification of the LBA-1974 and the protocol signed in 2011 and noted that the early ratification of the same would pave the way for implementation of the provisions of the agreement and lay the long pending boundary related issues at rest.
Both sides welcomed that the Joint Task Force on Fake Currency Notes has been set up and agreed that the first meeting may be convened soon to develop a mechanism to deal with the menace.
They further agreed that there should be a greater number of goodwill visits and increased cooperation in training on subjects like Cyber Crime, ICT, Forensic Sciences etc.
The Indian side reiterated its offer of training courses for law enforcement agencies of Bangladesh in Indian Institutions.
Lastly, the Home Secretary of Bangladesh invited the Home Secretary of India for the 15th Home Secretary level talks at a mutually convenient time in Bangladesh. – India Blooms News Service
