NEW DELHI, July 28 - India and Bangladesh today signed an agreement amending Article 10(3) of the Bilateral Extradition Treaty between the two countries.
The pact was signed in the presence of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and his Bangladeshi counterpart Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal.
The two sides also agreed on the necessity of signing a Repatriation Treaty to simplify and expedite the procedure of repatriation of each other�s nationals. Both sides also agreed to undertake urgent action for the repatriation of released prisoners and victims of human trafficking. They further agreed on the need to immediately operationalise the Agreement on Combating Terrorism and Organised Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking and expressed satisfaction over the signing of an addendum to the Bilateral Extradition Treaty of 2013 to further streamline the Treaty and to make it more effective.
Singh condemned the recent horrific terrorist attacks in Dhaka and conveyed his deepest condolences. He also assured Bangladesh of India�s fullest support and cooperation in its fight against terrorism, fundamentalism and radicalism. Singh said the two countries have to be vigilant at all times and channelize efforts to defeat terrorism and ensure peace, security and prosperity between the two countries.
India and Bangladesh expressed deep satisfaction over the ratification of the India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement of 1974 and its Protocol of 2011 last year. Singh also expressed satisfaction on the timely completion of all aspects of the Agreement, signing of 30 boundary strip maps pertaining to erstwhile adverse possessions and un-demarcated areas, completion of ground demarcation work, orderly movement of those enclave dwellers who chose to move to mainland India, completion of citizenship formalities of erstwhile enclave residents on both sides, etc.
India and Bangladesh emphasized the need for speedy operationalisation of the bilateral MoUs � MoU between Indian Coast Guard and Bangladesh Coast Guard for the Establishment of Collaborative Relationship to Combat Transnational Illegal Activities at Sea and Develop Regional
Cooperation; MoU to Prevent and Counter Smuggling and Circulation of Fake Currency Notes; MoU on Bilateral Cooperation for Prevention of Human Trafficking, Especially Trafficking in Women and Children; Rescue, Recovery, Repatriation and Reintegration of Victims of Trafficking � signed during the visit of the Prime Minister of India to Bangladesh in June 2015.
Both sides emphasised the importance of effective implementation of the Coordinated Border Management Plan to enhance cooperation between the border guarding forces of the two countries and to enable them to better monitor the identified vulnerable areas with a view to preventing criminal activities, irregular movement and acts of violence and loss of lives along the border areas. Both Ministers expressed satisfaction at the finalization of the Standard Operating Procedures for allowing usage of Indian border roads for the construction and maintenance of Border out Posts of Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) as well as the use of Indian medical facilities in difficult areas along the border by BGB personnel deployed in the area.
Earlier in the day, the visiting Bangladesh Home Minister called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed bilateral issues, including the current situation in Bangladesh.
Modi said India will stand by Bangladesh with all firmness the way it stood by the people of the next door neighbour during the 1971 Liberation War. �India will stand by Bangladesh in its fight against terrorism the way we stood by you during your 1971 Liberation War,� an official quoted said.
Modi also reiterated New Delhi�s all-out support for Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina�s �timely and firm� actions in combating militants.
