India agrees to help stop smuggling of arms, explosives

here yesterday with officials of both the countries agreeing to resolve 'major disputes through discussions and by taking steps in time'.

The 3-day Deputy Director-General level meeting between the BDR and BSF began at 9-30 am on Thursday at private holiday resort Zakaria City on the outskirts of the city. Deputy Director General of BDR Brigadier General SM Golam Rabbani led the 9-member Bangladesh team while the 13-member Indian side was led by Inspector General of BSF in Shillong SC Sri Vastava.

The Indian team included two Inspectors General of Police, an Additional IG and four DIGs. The Bangladesh team includeed five Sector Commanders of BDR in Mymensingh, Rangamati, Khagrachhari, Comilla and Sylhet.

Cross-border problems including smuggling of explosives and firearms from Indian states of Meghalaya, Tripura and Assam into Bangladesh, killing of Bangladesh nationals by BSF and armed civilians, sheltering miscreants and other border crimes dominated the discussions, meeting sources said.

BDR raised the issue of smuggling of smuggling of explosives and firearms into Bangladesh with highest priority and sought BSF help in stopping it. Indian officials agreed to take effective measures to stop it, the sources said.

Explosives are used in large scale in hilly areas of Meghalaya for limestone extraction.

This creates scope for easy smuggling of explosives into Bangladesh.

BDR also asked BSF to immediately stop killing of Bangladeshi civilians by its members and armed people.

The two sides also discussed smuggling of contrabands including drugs and liquor, re-installation of demolished or stolen border pillars, survey of the disputed lands, raising of barbed wires fence by BSF.

In Sylhet region, most of the disputed lands on the border are under possession of India while Bangladeshi farmers are barred from cultivating those for long.

The talks were held in a cordial atmosphere and BSF officials showed a positive attitude towards resolving the disputes, a BDR official said.

BSF also alleged intrusion into India by the BDR personnel and civilians, unprovoked firing by BDR, fishing in border river Kushiyara by Bangladeshis during odd hours and stressed construction of border fence within 150 yards. Bangladesh has been opposing this as existing border rules do not allow such construction.

At the end of talks at 1 PM, the Indian team left Bangladesh through Tamabil border yesterday afternoon.

Earlier, officials of both the countries met BDR Director General Major General Jahangir Alam Chowdhury in Dhaka on Friday and briefed him about the talks.