India, Bangladesh to expand cooperation on security, border issues

India and Bangladesh on Saturday resolved to further expand and strengthen mutual cooperation in the security and border related issues and not allow its territory to be used for any activity inimical to each other's interests.

Both the countries, which "attach highest importance to their bilateral relations", also decided to further enhance the level of cooperation to prevent the smuggling of Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) and contraband during the 19th Home Secretary Level Talks (HSLT) held online.

The meeting came against the backdrop of ‘Mujib Barsho’ and 50 years of Bangladesh Liberation War and establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

The Indian delegation was led by Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla while Bangladesh Senior Secretary (Public Security Division in Bangladesh's Ministry of Home Affairs led the officials from Dhaka.

An official statement said both the Secretaries reiterated their commitment to further expand and strengthen mutual cooperation in the security and border related issues. Both sides also reaffirmed not to allow the territory of either country to be used for any activity inimical to each other’s interests.

The two countries also 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.

"Both sides discussed early completion of pending fencing along the Indo Bangladesh Border (IBB) as agreed by the Prime Ministers of the two countries. 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," it said.

Another issue that came up for discussion was the functioning of the Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) to control the illegal cross border activities. Both sides appreciated the effective functioning of CBMP.

Bangladesh was appreciative of the assistance provided by India in the field of training and capacity building for various security agencies in their country.