India, B'desh agree to take strong measures to stop illegal crossing, human trafficking
New Delhi: The border guarding forces of India and Bangladesh on Friday agreed to bring down casualties on the borders while taking strong measures for prevention of illegal border crossing and human trafficking.
During the 47th Border Co-ordination Conference between India's Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guard Bangladesh held from September 3-8, the two sides also agreed to take several steps together to take prevent killings on the International Border. It was agreed that willful violation of the sanctity of the IB would be dealt with as per respective law of the land and inadvertent crossers would be handed over to the concerned border guarding force immediately.
Md. Shafeenul Islam, Director General, Border Guard Bangladesh (DG BGB) led the Bangladesh delegation to India while the Indian delegation was led by K K Sharma, Director General (DG), BSF.
Earlier, appreciating the steps being taken by BSF in bringing down casualties on borders, the Director General of BGB said his country wanted it to bring down to zero. With that Indian chief said it could be brought to zero level only when the criminals and offenders stopped crossing the IB illegally.
Both the delegations further agreed to aid victims of human trafficking and facilitate their early rescue and rehabilitation as per Law of the Land.
What may be significant for the illegal infiltration hit North Eastern States particularly Assam, the two forces agreed that willful violation of the sanctity of the International Border (IB) would be dealt with according to respective law of the land and inadvertent crossers would be handed over to the concerned border guarding force immediately.
On handing over of wanted militants mainly from the North Eastern States operating out of the neighbouring country, DG BGB informed that there is no IIG's hideout inside Bangladesh and clarified that "Bangladesh does not allow its soil to be used by any entities or elements hostile to any country".
DG BSF sought further cooperation from BGB to eliminate remnant Indian Insurgent Groups (IIGs).
DG BSF also expressed his concern about the increase in the smuggling of fake Indian currency notes (FICN). He appreciated the efforts of BGB and other security forces of Bangladesh against smuggling of the fake currency notes and sought further cooperation in detecting such units in Bangladesh and legal prosecution of defaulters.
DG BGB replied that Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) of Bangladesh are taking actions against Fake Currency Note (FCN) racketeers and side by side government has already placed FCN detecting machines in all Integrated Check Posts(ICPs) and many other places across the country.
