NEW DELHI, Jan 20 � In a significant achievement, India and Bangladesh today agreed to resolve all outstanding border problems in a time-bound manner.
The decision was arrived at the 11th Home Secretary-level talks that ended in Dhaka today.
Sources said that the two countries were looking at a time-frame of a couple of months to resolve the existing border problems. Fencing of the international border near the zero line has been obstructed by the neighbouring country, while India is also seeking Dhaka�s help in repairing the old fences.
India and Bangladesh have also been trying to resolve the problems of villages in adverse possession.
Union Home Minister P Chidambaram is expected to visit Bangladesh ahead of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh�s planned trip to the country later this year.
The border problems may be formally settled during the Prime Minister�s Dhaka visit, said sources.
Meanwhile, India raised the issue of early handing over of ULFA general secretary Anup Chetia, who has completed his sentence in Bangladesh, to ensure his participation in the proposed peace talks.
Sources said details of Chetia�s handing over are likely to be worked out during the Prime Minister�s visit. Since the last round of meeting between the two Prime Ministers in New Delhi, Bangladesh has over a period of time handed over top leaders of ULFA and NDFB, operating out of the country, dealing a serious blow to these outfits.
Chetia has been languishing in a Dhaka jail ever since his arrest on December 21, 1997. ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa has also asked the government to take steps for the early return of Chetia.
At the talks, Indian also expressed concerned over fake Indian currencies being made in Bangladesh and the seizure of huge number of bullets in Bangladesh near the Indian border.
India expressed fears that the ammunition may not have been meant for use in Bangladesh but India.
Meanwhile, a joint statement was also issued after the joint working group meeting that concluded on Wednesday. Both sides expressed their satisfaction at the current level of cooperation on security-related issues between Bangladesh and India. The joint working group meeting was held at the Joint Secretary level. The Indian side was led by Joint Secretary (North-east) Shambhu Singh.
�They emphasised on further strengthening interaction between the authorities of the two countries in dealing with security-related matters for mutual benefit,� the statement said.
