Shillong(Meghalaya), Nov 29: The Border Co-ordination Meeting between IGP BSF Meghalaya, Guwahati, Silchar, Tripura and Region Commanders, Border Guard Bangladesh was held from 27 to 29 Nov here.
The Indian delegation was led by Susanta Kumar Nath, IPS, IG BSF Tripura Frontier, accompanied by IG Meghalaya, M&C whereas the Bangladesh delegation was led by Tanveer Gani Chowdhury Additional Director General, Region Commander, South East Region Chattogram of Border Guard Bangladesh accompanied by Region Commander NE Region Sarail, Sector Commanders of BGB Cumilla, Sylhet, Mymensingh, and other BGB delegates.
The agenda points discussed during the meeting mainly focused on concerns of both the Border Guarding Forces like movement of insurgent and human trafficking, drugs, fake currency, arms smuggling which need greater cooperation, understanding and synergy to make the life of border population secure.
The BSF mainly emphasized on Attacks and Assaults on BSF personnel and Unarmed Indian Civilians and other provocative action by BD Criminals. In the three day meeting were discussed on the Security related issues and action against Indian Insurgents groups (IIGs) taking shelter in Bangladesh.
Trans-border crimes like smuggling of forest Agro produce, drugs/narcotics cattle. Joint efforts for prevention of smuggling of FICN and illegal migration/infiltration by Bangladeshi nationals. Confidence building measures to improve relation between two border guarding forces.
The BSF also provided facts and figures to BGB list containing details of hideout camps of IIGs based in Bangladesh, list of BD criminal involved in fence breaching, attack assaults on BSF and Indian national, cattle smugglers, FICN racketeers, Bangladeshi traffickers and touts involved in drugs trafficking, human trafficking, sympathizers of Indian insurgents in Bangladesh were hand of over to BGB.
The IG BSF requested Region Commander BGB to take effective measures to stop illegal migration of BD national, prevention of trans-border crimes and take stringent action IIGs whose Camps still exist in Bangladesh.
Border Guards Bangladesh delegation mainly emphasized upon Firing on Bangladesh national by Indian nationals and BSF. Kidnapping/ apprehension of Bangladeshi national, Illegal trepassing by Indian national into Bangladesh territory, smuggling of various types of drugs/narcotics from India to Bangladesh.
BSF mentioned that BSF alongwith Indian nationals are exercising maximum restraint and resort to firing as a last option in the self-defence only. It was also mentioned that Border Security Force (BSF) personnel are now using the non-lethal weapons like pump-action guns along the Indo- Bangla border, which has resulted in considerable change in the environment on the border. Apart from it, various developmental issues along the International Border were also discussed.
Both the Border Guarding Forces agreed to look into each other’s perspective on border problems with an open mind and to increase sharing of actionable intelligence to curb trans-border crimes and to have a peaceful tranquil atmosphere along the International Border. The next co-ordination conference will be held at Bangladesh.
