DHAKA, 18 September 2004 — Bangladesh and India announced a package of agreements at the end of two days of high-level security talks here yesterday.
The talks between Bangladeshi Interior Minister Omar Farooq and Indian Home Secretary Dhirendra Singh covered insurgency, security, drug trafficking, visa regime and border demarcation and exchange of enclaves between the two countries.
A mutually acceptable work plan was approved at the meeting which was held after a gap of four years, officials said.
The two sides agreed to set up a hotline with each other and hold high-level bilateral meetings every three months.
The work plan includes joint drives to check infiltration and other cross-border crimes, the full implementation of the 1974 land boundary agreement, and the easing of visa restrictions. Bangladesh will grant double entry and exit visas to Indians transiting through its territory.
“Both sides have agreed that better and more effective border guarding is necessary to prevent trafficking and illegal movements across the border,” Farooq said while addressing a joint press conference with Singh.
The officials avoided direct reply to questions over militant camps and handover of terrorists who are reportedly taking shelter in each other’s territory. But diplomatic sources said the two sides swapped lists of insurgents allegedly operating in their countries against the interests of the other but failed to make any headway on Indian claims on the presence in Bangladesh of training camps for anti-Indian separatist rebels.
Bangladesh lodged a complaint to India over the reported activities of the anti-Dhaka elements like the Swadhin Bangabhumi Andolon and tribal insurgents along the common border.
A list of Bangladeshi criminals seeking refuge in India was also submitted to New Delhi, the sources said.
The Indian side also urged Dhaka to hand over 15 anti-Indian insurgent leaders held in Bangladeshi jails.
