India, Bangladesh reaffirm cooperation on security in Home Secretary-level talks

In the backdrop of ‘Mujib Barsho’ and 50 years of Bangladesh liberation war, India and Bangladesh held Home Secretary Level Talks (HSLT) Saturday. This is the 19th such talks between the two countries.

The Indian delegation was led by Shri Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla and Mostafa Kamal Uddin, Senior Secretary, Public Security Division, Ministry of Home Affairs of Bangladesh.

Home Ministry officials here said that both sides discussed early completion of pending fencing along the Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB) as agreed by the Prime Ministers of the two countries.

Sources said that both sides appreciated the cooperation between the two countries and the action taken to address the menace of terrorism and extremism in an effective manner.

The effective functioning of the Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) to control the illegal cross-border activities was appreciated by both sides, an official said.

“India and Bangladesh attach highest importance to their bilateral relations. Both Secretaries reiterated their commitment to further expand and strengthen mutual cooperation in the security and border related issues. Both sides reaffirmed not to allow the territory of either country to be used for any activity inimical to each other’s interests,” an MHA statement said.

The holding of the inaugural Police Chiefs’ Dialogue in January, 2021 implementing the decision taken at the Home Minister Level Talks (HMLT) held in August, 2019, was noted with appreciation by both sides, an official said.

“Both sides agreed to further enhance the level of cooperation to prevent the smuggling of Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) and contraband. Bangladesh appreciated assistance provided by India in the field of training and capacity building for various security agencies. Both sides reviewed the entire gamut of security and border related cooperation and agreed to work closely to fulfill the shared vision of the leadership of the two countries,” the MHA statement said.