It has been postponed twice… now these issues regarding India-Bangladesh border will be discussed in February

New Delhi: The Director General (DG) level border talks between India and Bangladesh, which have been postponed twice, will now be held in Delhi from February 16. In this meeting, the increase in infiltration attempts after border fencing and political turmoil in Bangladesh will be discussed. This news has been given by official sources.

Border Guard A delegation from Bangladesh will hold discussions with India's Border Security Force (BSF) at the biennial dialogue between February 16 and 19. This will be the first top-level discussion between the two armies after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina on August 5 last year.

Postponed twice last year

Official sources told 'PTI-Bhasha' that the issues for talks are being worked out between the two sides. He told that last year these talks were postponed twice. Sources said issues related to Bangladesh's objections to the construction of the agreed 'single row' fencing on about 92 identified stretches covering about 95.8 km of the total 4,096 km long international border between the two countries were taken up during the meeting. It is expected to be taken up “prominently” during.

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Bangladesh had summoned Indian High Commissioner Prannoy Verma to Dhaka over the weekend to express “deep concern” over the BSF's “activities” regarding fencing and border killings.

The next day, India made it clear to Bangladesh's acting High Commissioner in Delhi, Nurul Islam, that all prescribed protocols were being followed during the fencing. It expressed hope that “Bangladesh will implement all prior agreements and adopt a cooperative approach to combat cross-border crimes.”

BSF caught 1,956 Bangladeshi citizens

During the border talks, the Indian side is also expected to discuss the issue of increase in infiltration attempts by Bangladeshi citizens along the border. According to the data, between August and December last year, BSF personnel had arrested 1,956 Bangladeshi citizens. Director General-level boundary talks were held annually between 1975 and 1992, but were made biennial in 1993, with both sides holding talks in New Delhi and Dhaka by turns.

The previous edition was held in Dhaka in March, when the Indian delegation visited Bangladesh.

(with agency input)