SILCHAR, Jan 24 � No militant group from the North-east has been given shelter in Bangladesh, said the Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet, Sahidul Islam, and the Deputy Commissioner of Moulabi Bazar, Kamrul Islam.
Addressing media persons at the Circuit House here before leaving India after a joint coordination meeting with the DCs of Cachar and Karimganj, both Sahidul Islam and Kamrul Islam categorically stated that there is no shelter for militant outfits like the NDFB or the ULFA from North-east India in Sylhet and Moulabi Bazar or in any other part of Bangladesh.
�Bangladesh does not house any terrorist outfits. Our government is pro-active in dealing with terrorism,� the visitors said.
Sahidul Islam said that since Cachar and Karimganj are two districts adjoining Bangladesh, it is their priority to maintain cordial and harmonious relationship with the administrations and keep the focus on border issues.
�We will discuss with our higher authorities on how to bring back the Bangladeshi nationals who have completed their penalty periods in Indian prisons or those who have come near the border,� Sahidul said.
Asked on their take on the proposed Indo-Bangla land swap deal, the two officials put the ball in the court of the higher authorities. They stressed the fact that they are eager to maintain friendly relations with India, and that the Bangladesh Government would look at the areas where the border pillars are missing.
Also, bilateral talks are being held between the two countries on rail, road and water transport together with an exchange of cultural greetings, they added.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner of Cachar, Gokul Mohan Hazarika said that a Home Ministry-level meeting between both the countries was held in 2012 and in the said meeting, both sides inter alia agreed to revive the mechanism for regular consultation among the deputy commissioners of border districts of the two countries for resolving local issues.
It may be mentioned here that a similar DC-level meeting took place between India and Bangladesh way back on April 20, 1993.
