Sagar Biswas :
Bangladesh again raised voice against killing, torture and abduction of its nationals on borders by Border Security Force [BSF] of India in the director general [DG]-level conference between the two border forces that began in Dhaka on Thursday.
The latest border talks between the two neighbouring countries is taking place at a time when India has been facing widespread criticism in the international arena following the rampant killing of Bangladeshi nationals by the BSF in the bordering zone.
The formal meeting of six-day DG- level conference between the two bordering forces formally began on Thursday at BGB Headquarters, Pilkhana in the city, officials said.
BSF DG Shri K K Sharma led a 21-member delegation while BGB Director General Major General Aziz Ahmed headed a 23-member team in the meeting. The Indian team included senior BSF officials, frontier IGs and high officials of External Affairs Ministry.
On the other hand, the host team included BGB
region commanders, additional directors general, officials of Prime Minister’s Office, Home Ministry, Foreign Ministry, Joint River Commission, Department of Narcotics Control, Directorate of Land Record and Survey and Survey of Bangladesh.
Sources close to the BGB Headquarters said various bilateral issues, including shooting at unarmed Bangladeshis on the border, abductions, trespassing, smuggling of arms and ammunition, drugs, have got high importance at yesterday’s meeting.
Especially, the two border forces discussed to find a way to tackle cross-border terrorism. Apart from this, the meeting also discussed detaining of Bangladeshi nationals, illegal crossing of international border, smuggling of arms-ammunition and different kinds of drugs, such as phensidyl, alcohol, marijuana, heroin, sex stimulating viagra and senegra pills.
Besides, the two sides also discussed over mutual cooperation between the two forces about construction of development projects within 150 yards of zero line and protection of bordering river banks, the sources said.
The Indian delegation will visit different sight-seeing places at the end of their visit. earlier on Wednesday, a Kabadi match was also held between the two border forces at Bir Uttam Fazlur Rahman Khandker auditorium in Philkhana as a token of friendship.
As a part of increasing cooperation, a nine -member team of BSF-run social organization ‘BSF wives’ welfare association [BWWA]’ is visiting Bangladesh under the leadership of organizational President Renu Sharma, who is also wife of BSF DG.
On the other hand, wife of BGB DG Begum Dilshad Nahar Aziz has been leading the taem of BGB welfare society.
According to officials, the Indian delegation will leave Dhaka after two sides will sign a Joint Record of Discussions [JRD] on May 16 [Monday].
