'Smuggling, trafficking key issues on India-Bangladesh border'

"Borders of the two countries generally remain calm, but smugglers of drugs and other goods and human traffickers, who are always active across the borders, often create problem," Director General of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) Major General Rakibul Islam Wednesday said.

The top official recently held an informal meeting with India's Border Security Force (BSF) officials.

Thanking the BDR and the BSF for their efforts to maintain peace on the India-Bangladesh border, Islam said: "We wear different uniforms, but we are human beings and it is our duty to save our motherland from any culprits."

He urged civilians of the two countries to help border guards to check smuggling, The Daily Star reported Thursday.

He expressed hope that his forthcoming visit to India "will help to strengthen brotherhood between the two countries".

"Last month high officials of BDR and BSF held a meeting in Kolkata on the border situation. Another meeting will be held Sep 22 and it will focus on maintaining peace at the border," he said.

Bangladesh and India share a 4,300-km riverine border that has witnessed clashes between border guards and smugglers.