Aizawl, February 16, 2010: Thakurgaon Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and Indian Border Security Force (BSF) exchanged the lists of criminals of the bordering areas of the two countries at a sector commander level border coordination meeting in Panchagarh yesterday.

Rangpur Sector Commander Col Mohammad Khairuzzaman led the eight member BDR delegation while an eight member BSF team was led by Shiliguri Sector DIG Reaz Ahmed Khan at the meeting at Banglabandha border outpost (BOP) under Tentulia upazila of the district.

The meeting began at 11:30am and continued till 5:00pm BDR team leader Col Khairuzzaman received the BSF officials when they entered Bangladesh through Banglabandha zero point at 10:30am.After the meeting, Col Khairuzzaman told a press briefing that the lists of criminals of the bordering areas of both countries were exchanged at the meeting.

Both sides agreed on joint patrol to check border terrorism, smuggling, drug trade, intrusion and trafficking of women and children, he said.

Both sides also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to maintain peace on the border, show highest restraint at special circumstances and solve border related problems though discussion.

A deputy director-general level meeting between BDR and BSF will be held at Tamabil check post tomorrow.

BDR Deputy Director General Brigadier General Obaidul Haque will lead the BDR team while BSF Inspector General of Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram and Cachhar frontiers SK Mishra lead the Indian side.

The recent unrest along the border in Sylhet region and other trans-border problems will come up for discussion at the meeting, said the commanding officer of 21 Rifles Battalion.

At a battalion commander level flag at Tamabil yesterday, the border guards of India and Bangladesh agreed to maintain peace on the border in Sylhet region.

They also agreed to maintain status quo on the disputed farmland along the border until a joint survey is done.

Commanding officer of 21 Rifles Battalion Lt Colonel Khondaker Zahirul Alam led the BDR team while BSF Battalion Commander-1, Meghalaya, SK Tirki headed the BSF delegation.

The flag meeting was held following Sunday's exchange of fire between BDR and BSF on Jaintapur and Sripur borders over fishing in a water body.

Both sides traded over 300 gunshots, leaving three people injured.

BDR sources said around 50 Indian Khasia tribesmen accompanied by BSF men entered Bangladesh territory around 11:00am and attempted to catch fish in a water body, some 300 metres inside the borderline in Jaintapur.

The BSF troops of Muktarpur camp started firing after BDR men asked the Indian force to leave the area and proposed a flag meeting.

The BSF also opened fire on Sripur border, about three kilometres off Jaintapur border.

Comment