Dhaka, Oct 09 – India has reiterated its commitment to completely stop killings along the Bangladesh-India border saying nobody wants to justify killing.
“We fully understand the sentiment in Bangladesh … nobody wants to justify killing,” newly-appointed Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Kumar Doraiswami said Thursday.
In his first interaction with media at India House, the diplomat said this sentiment also exists on the Indian side and shared the two countries’ commitment to end tragic incidents that take place along the border mostly at the dead of the night.
The High Commissioner said this issue is fundamentally a law and order issue that needs to be treated in a law and order manner.
During Foreign Minister-level talks on September 29, Bangladesh conveyed deep concern over deaths along the Bangladesh-India border.
Dhaka and Delhi stressed the need for strengthening the effective implementation of the Coordinated Border Management Plan.
Bangladesh side highlighted that the “entire nation is deeply concerned” at the rise in killings of Bangladeshi nationals by Indian border forces.
Indian side agreed that the loss of civilian lives at the border is a matter of concern, noting that even one death is too many.
Both sides urged the concerned border forces to enhance coordinated measures to bring down border incidents to zero.
Covid vaccine, connectivity
Responding to a question, Doraiswami said India is committed to having a stronger partnership with Bangladesh on all aspects of vaccine development, including phase-III trial, co-production and delivery in a way where the Bangladesh government is comfortable with.
“We’d love to do this in a way that ensures the most affordable price. We’ll be in discussion with your government,” he said.
Doraiswami said he wants to see the completion of the connectivity projects at the earliest and ensure that it gives necessary returns to the people of Bangladesh.
He said he will work to make sure that more Indian businesses come to Bangladesh and invest here.
Economic partnership will be important to rebuild ties in the aftermath of Covid-19, Doraiswami said.
Earlier, Bangladesh and India agreed to resolve water-sharing issues of common rivers, including Teesta, and bring down border killings to a zero level.
The High Commissioner arrived here on Oct 5 and submitted his credentials to President Abdul Hamid on Thursday. – UNB
