Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Nadrendra Modi on Thursday in the virtual summit agreed that loss of civilian lives at the border is “a matter of concern” and directed the border forces concerned to enhance coordinate measures to work towards bringing such border incidents to zero.
The leaders stressed on full implementation of the ongoing Coordinated Border Management Plan, according to the joint statement.
“Both sides noted with satisfaction the recent stepped-up efforts of the two border guarding forces against smuggling of arms, narcotics and fake currency and to prevent trafficking, particularly of women and children.”
The two countries stressed that border management is a shared responsibility and both leaders emphasised the need for coordinated and joint patrols to create a crime-free border.
For its part, India’s BSF will continue to exercise maximum restraint and follow a strict protocol of escalation of actions, with the commitment that the use of lethal force would only be in the last resort, in self-defence.
Replying to a question, foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen in a briefing after the summit said: “Like you, it (border killing) frustrates us. We want no killing along the border. We’ve very nice relations. It creates a stigma in our friendly relations. We don’t want to see any stigma in our friendly relations.”
He also said that in some cases people from Bangladesh go deep inside the border, carry arms and bombs. “So, it’s not a one-sided problem. It’s our fault too. We’ve to reduce criminal activities. Some notorious business people go deep inside the (Indian) border with arms and bombs.”
Both sides agreed to hold an early meeting of the Joint Boundary Conference to prepare a new set of strip maps along the stretch of Icchamati, Kalindi, Raimongol and the Hariabhanga Rivers from Main Pillar 1 to Land Boundary terminus, with a view to finalizing the delineation of the boundaries as fixed. It was agreed to carry out necessary work to convert the International Boundary along Kuhsiyara river into a fixed boundary.
Bangladesh reiterated the request for 1.3 km Innocent Passage through river route along River Padma near Rajshahi District. The Indian side assured to consider the request.
Both leaders agreed to facilitate completion of border fencing at all pending sectors at the international border between both the countries at the earliest beginning from the Tripura (India)- Bangladesh sector, according to the joint statement.
Recognizing that terrorism remains a threat to global peace and security, both sides reiterated their strong commitment to eliminating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
Both sides emphasized simplifying people to people movement between the two countries. The Bangladesh side requested for early implementation of India’s commitment to remove remaining restrictions on entry/ exit from land ports in India for Bangladeshis travelling on valid documents in a phased manner, beginning with checkpoints at Akhaura (Tripura) and Ghojadanga (West Bengal).
Bangladesh wants to join India-Myanmar-Thailand road network
The foreign minister said the prime minister expressed willingness to join the road belt with India, Myanmar and Thailand as the two countries during the virtual Summit to broaden the bilateral relations and explore regional connectivity in an effective way.
He said Bangladesh got the offer to join the network and the then prime minister Khaleda Zia, the BNP chairperson, declined the proposal.
“A road link consisting of India, Myanmar and Thailand is under-construction. India proposed to us earlier to join it. But the then Khaleda Zia-government refused it,” he said.
He said though the then ministry concerned positively responded with a summary on the Indian proposal, Khaleda Zia unilaterally rejected it.
“Our trade and commerce will see a boost if the road is built. We need to be involved in the road belt considering our strategic interests,” Dr Momen said.
He said the Bangladesh side requested India to include Bangladesh in the initiative and India said it will consult two other countries.
