India, Bangla border forces meet from today

According to official sources, India is going to raise the issue of prevention of attacks on BSF personnel by Bangladeshi criminals, joint efforts to prevent trans-border crimes, action against Indian insurgent groups, issues related with border infrastructure, joint efforts for effective implementation of the Comprehensive Border Management Plan, simultaneous coordinated patrol, identification of vulnerable areas, sharing of information and confidence building measures.

What is significant however is that Bangladesh has so far never officially admitted about large-scale illegal migration from the country to Northeast India. For Bangladesh, the entire issue of illegal migration to India is exaggerated.

�If you read recent newspaper editions, the World Economic Forum published a development index document where Bangladesh ranked 34th, while India was 62nd and Pakistan 52nd. These are indicators � people need to have economic incentives to migrate,� claimed Bangladesh Assistant High Commissioner to India Kazi Muntashir Murshed, who heads the country�s Mission in Guwahati.

�Maybe there was a time when the situation was different, but today I do not see any reason for Bangladeshis to migrate to Assam for economic benefit. India has nothing as such to offer,� he was quoted by a news agency.

In the meeting, the Indian delegation will be headed by BSH Director General KK Sharma, while the Bangladesh delegation is headed by Border Guards Director General Maj Gen Md Shafeenul Islam.

Sources said that Bangladesh is expected to raise the issue of trans-border crimes, smuggling of various types of drugs and narcotics from India to Bangladesh, arrest of Bangladeshi nationals by the BSF, construction of viewers� gallery and other facilities for joint retreat ceremony venues and expansion of crime-free zones.

Sources said the relation between India and Bangladesh is at an all-time high. To enhance cooperation and mutual understanding between the two border guarding forces, both sides are carrying out various events for officers and men on reciprocal basis under confidence-building measures. In addition to it, the Coordinated Border Management Plan is also being implemented by both the border guarding forces as force multipliers in checking trans-border crimes.

The biannual DG-level border coordination conference has been a regular feature since 1975 and it is held to discuss the matters of imminent concern. The two sides are likely to sign the Joint Record of Discussions on September 7, the concluding day of the meeting, sources said.