Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh has handed over a list of 1200 criminals to Indian authorities with a view to checking trans-border crimes between the two countries.
“A list of 1200 criminals has recently been prepared by different intelligence and law enforcement agencies. We’ve handed over the list to our Indian counterpart during the recently concluded DG-level conference of two bordering forces,” said Director General of Border Guard Bangladesh [BGB] Major General Aziz Ahmed while addressing a press briefing at Pilkhana headquarters in the city on Friday.
He also revealed that Border Security Force [BSF] of India has already handed over to Bangladesh some big shots, while several
other low-profile criminals have also been returned by them in the meantime.
The BGB Chief was expressing his views on return to the country after attending the six-day DG-level conference between BGB and BSF from October 30 to September 5.
He said that border killings could be stopped if there were no cattle smuggling. “If the cattle smuggling is restrained, the border killings can also be stopped. So far as we know, the reason behind 95 per cent border killing is cattle smuggling,” he said.
At the same time, he also laid emphasis on the role of BSF in this regard, as most of the cattle come from India. The BGB DG, however, mentioned drug, gold and arms smuggling as some other vital reasons that badly affect Bangladesh.
“So, if the cattle smuggling could not be stopped, it will not possible to check other cross-border crimes,” he further noted. “In the conference, I’ve urged the BSF Chief to take initiatives inside the Indian territory to check cattle smuggling. A total of 26 Bangladeshi nationals have been killed in the border this year, of them 22 gunned down by the BSF.”
The Indian government, a few years back, provided BSF ‘non-lethal weapons’ to cut down the rate of border killings. But the border killings did not stop, the DG said. “We’ve asked them to use the non-lethal weapons in the lower part of the body to reduce border killing.”
Maj Gen Aziz Ahmed said: “Everybody knows who are running the cattle smuggling syndicate from inside Bangladeshi nationals… We’ve no power except arrest. The government administration which is liable to take legal action against them is not taking proper steps. And it the main reason for not stopping smuggling.”
He also urged the newsmen to come forward to unveil the criminals before the countrymen.
Expressing his annoyance over increasing smuggling of intoxicating drugs, the BGB DG said: “Some Yaba smugglers have recently caught by the bordering forces; those were bringing the intoxicating pills to Bangladesh through Indian border. Earlier, we had no idea about this. We had thought that Yaba was coming here crossing Myanmar border.”
“I’ve also requested the BSF DG to watch over this issue and find out in which way the Yaba is smuggled into Bangladesh from Myanmar using Indian soil. Or is there any yaba factory near the Indian border? The BSF DG assured us to look after the matter.”
Replying to a question, the DG said: “There are barbed wire fence in 79 per cent area near Indian border. Besides, the Bangladesh government will start erecting barbed wire fence in 282 kilometer bordering area very soon. This work will begin from Teknaf. More 950 kilometer border will be brought under barbed wire fence phase by phase.”
Officials said Bangladesh raised its voice against killing of its unarmed nationals on border by BSF in the DG-level conference in New Delhi on Friday. A 22-member strong team of BGB led by its DG Major General Aziz Ahmed attended the meeting.
On the other hand, BSF DG Shri K K Sharma headed a 25-member delegation that included senior BSF officials, frontier IGs and high officials of External Affairs Ministry, Home Ministry, Joint River Commission and Survey of India.
Bangladesh has handed over a list of 1200 criminals to Indian authorities with a view to checking trans-border crimes between the two countries.
“A list of 1200 criminals has recently been prepared by different intelligence and law enforcement agencies. We’ve handed over the list to our Indian counterpart during the recently concluded DG-level conference of two bordering forces,” said Director General of Border Guard Bangladesh [BGB] Major General Aziz Ahmed while addressing a press briefing at Pilkhana headquarters in the city on Friday.
He also revealed that Border Security Force [BSF] of India has already handed over to Bangladesh some big shots, while several
other low-profile criminals have also been returned by them in the meantime.
The BGB Chief was expressing his views on return to the country after attending the six-day DG-level conference between BGB and BSF from October 30 to September 5.
He said that border killings could be stopped if there were no cattle smuggling. “If the cattle smuggling is restrained, the border killings can also be stopped. So far as we know, the reason behind 95 per cent border killing is cattle smuggling,” he said.
At the same time, he also laid emphasis on the role of BSF in this regard, as most of the cattle come from India. The BGB DG, however, mentioned drug, gold and arms smuggling as some other vital reasons that badly affect Bangladesh.
“So, if the cattle smuggling could not be stopped, it will not possible to check other cross-border crimes,” he further noted. “In the conference, I’ve urged the BSF Chief to take initiatives inside the Indian territory to check cattle smuggling. A total of 26 Bangladeshi nationals have been killed in the border this year, of them 22 gunned down by the BSF.”
The Indian government, a few years back, provided BSF ‘non-lethal weapons’ to cut down the rate of border killings. But the border killings did not stop, the DG said. “We’ve asked them to use the non-lethal weapons in the lower part of the body to reduce border killing.”
Maj Gen Aziz Ahmed said: “Everybody knows who are running the cattle smuggling syndicate from inside Bangladeshi nationals… We’ve no power except arrest. The government administration which is liable to take legal action against them is not taking proper steps. And it the main reason for not stopping smuggling.”
He also urged the newsmen to come forward to unveil the criminals before the countrymen.
Expressing his annoyance over increasing smuggling of intoxicating drugs, the BGB DG said: “Some Yaba smugglers have recently caught by the bordering forces; those were bringing the intoxicating pills to Bangladesh through Indian border. Earlier, we had no idea about this. We had thought that Yaba was coming here crossing Myanmar border.”
“I’ve also requested the BSF DG to watch over this issue and find out in which way the Yaba is smuggled into Bangladesh from Myanmar using Indian soil. Or is there any yaba factory near the Indian border? The BSF DG assured us to look after the matter.”
Replying to a question, the DG said: “There are barbed wire fence in 79 per cent area near Indian border. Besides, the Bangladesh government will start erecting barbed wire fence in 282 kilometer bordering area very soon. This work will begin from Teknaf. More 950 kilometer border will be brought under barbed wire fence phase by phase.”
Officials said Bangladesh raised its voice against killing of its unarmed nationals on border by BSF in the DG-level conference in New Delhi on Friday. A 22-member strong team of BGB led by its DG Major General Aziz Ahmed attended the meeting.
On the other hand, BSF DG Shri K K Sharma headed a 25-member delegation that included senior BSF officials, frontier IGs and high officials of External Affairs Ministry, Home Ministry, Joint River Commission and Survey of India.
