DG-level talks between India, Bangladesh border forces begin in New Delhi

The coordination meeting will culminate on December 29 with the concluding session and signing of Joint Record of Discussions between the DG BSF and DG BGB.

New Delhi: The 49th Director-General Level Co-ordination meeting between the Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) began in New Delhi on Thursday.

According to Home Ministry officials, a 10-member delegation of India headed by Vivek Johri, D-G, BSF along with senior officials of the Ministry of external affairs and other law enforcement agencies joined the formal session of the conference with 11 members of BGB headed by General Md Shafeenul Islam, D-G of BGB.

Both sides have already listed out their agendas for the conference which include common points such as preventing trans-Border crimes and confidence-building measures. BSF's agenda also includes prevention against attacks on BSF personnel by the Bangladeshi criminals and action against Indian Insurgent Groups.

BGB whereas lists smuggling of various types of drugs or narcotics from India to Bangladesh and arrest/apprehension of Bangladeshi nationals by BSF among its agenda for discussions. BGB also wants an expansion of crime-free zones and higher studies in India for BGB wards.

According to home ministry officials, BSF also raised the issue of the killing of their 51-year-old head constable Vijay Bhan Singh and injury to constable Rajvir Yadav in firing by a BGB trooper near the Kakmarichar border post in Murshidabad district of West Bengal.

Border Guards Bangladesh DG General Md Shafeenul Islam also paid a courtesy visit to Union Home Minister Amit Shah today at the North Block.

BSF has said that in addition to confidence-building measures, a Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) is also being implemented by both the border guarding forces as to force multipliers in checking trans-border crimes. BSF has included joint efforts for effective implementation of CBMP in its agenda.

The conference will end with the signing of a “joint record of discussions” by the two sides on December 29. The two sides will also play a "friendly" volleyball match on December 27.

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