BSF to share info on Bangladeshi terrorists in India: BGB

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Director General Major General AKM Nazmul Hasan has said that Border Security Force (BSF) of India has assured them of sharing information about Bangladeshi terrorists and militant groups staying in the neighbouring country.

"We have provided information on the location of Bangladeshi separatist terrorist and militant groups staying in India. And BSF has assured of extending cooperation in this regard," he told a press conference at the BGB headquarters in Dhaka.

BGB chief organized the press conference to share the outcome of the 53rd BGB-BSF DG level border conference held in New Delhi on June 11-14, according to BSS.

Bangladesh never allows its land to be used by terrorist groups of any other country and will not allow in future, the BGB chief said, adding that both sides at the conference agreed to increase mutual cooperation to strengthen the regional security.

Referring to the Bangladesh government‍‍`s zero tolerance policy against terrorism, Nazmul said chiefs of both the forces agreed to exchange information about the terrorist groups active on the border areas, especially about the terrorist group of Kuki Chins in the hilly areas.

Both sides also agreed to immediately share information received about criminals at field level in the future, he added.

The BGB chief said that incidents of killing and injuring unarmed Bangladeshi citizens on the frontier areas were discussed with highest importance in the border conference.

In this context, the BGB called upon the BSF to bring down the border killings to zero, showing respect to the joint statement of the Prime Ministers of the two countries issued in September 2022, he said, adding that his counterpart assured of working sincerely to this end.

Noting that he informed Indian Home Minister and Home Secretary about border killings, Nazmul expressed hope that the incident of killings on border areas will come down from the current position.

The BGB chief said both the border security forces put emphasis on effective implementation of integrated border management plan to prevent cross-border crimes like drug smuggling, trespassing, human trafficking, and smuggling of gold, arms, counterfeit currency notes.

In the conference, he said, both sides agreed to take necessary border measures by the BSF to prevent the trespassing of forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals living in India into Bangladesh and to provide mutual assistance in cracking down on brokers in both countries.

The next DG level talks between the BGB and BSF will be held in Dhaka at a convenient time.