NEW DELHI, July 15 - India today formally raised the issue of illegal migration from Bangladesh to India with the neighbouring country.
Official sources here said that Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh co-chaired the sixth meeting of the Home Minister level talks with his Bangladesh counterpart Asaduzzaman Khan in Dhaka today.
During the meeting, all security related matters of interest, including counter-terrorism, capacity building and increased cooperation between security agencies, border management, countering illegal activities like fake currency, drug and human trafficking, consular issues were discussed.
According to sources, the issue of influx from Bangladesh to India figured in the meeting and the two sides agreed to tighten vigilance along the international border. Senior officials of Bangladesh have been maintaining that India has never raised the issue of illegal infiltration with the Government of Bangladesh.
Singh also discussed the influx of Rohingya from the Rakhine state of Myanmar over the past year. He said that India is committed to helping in safe, speedy and sustainable return of these persons to their homes.
In this context, India is working on a project to construct prefabricated housing in Rakhine state so as to meet the needs of the displaced people.
Both Home Ministers noted that significant progress has been made in bilateral relationship between the two nations. Both sides also reiterated their commitment to further strengthen the bilateral ties on the basis of friendship, trust and understanding for mutual benefit of the people of India and Bangladesh.
The two ministers also witnessed the signing of the Revised Travel Arrangement 2018 (RTA 2018) amending the earlier RTA 2013 for further liberalising the visa regime between the two countries, including enhanced duration for employment and student visas.
Earlier in the day, Rajnath Singh paid homage to Bangladesh�s �Father of the Nation� Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by laying a wreath at Bangabandhu Museum in Dhanmondi, Dhaka. He also offered prayers at the Dhakeshwari temple.
The Union Home Minister has since returned to New Delhi after concluding his three-day visit to Bangladesh. �I am deeply touched by the warmth and hospitality of the people of Bangladesh. Bharat-Bangladesh Moitree Chirojeebi Hok. India-Bangladesh Friendship Live Forever,� he said in a tweet before leaving Dhaka.
Meanwhile, India has signed a deal with Bangladesh to give senior citizens and freedom fighters five-year multiple entry visas. Security Services Secretary Farid Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury and Brij Raj Sharma, Special Secretary to the Indian Home Ministry, signed the revised travel arrangement in Dhaka today.
