Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) today promised all help and cooperation in crushing militant groups, drug smugglers and human traffickers who use the neighbouring country’s territory against India.
The zero tolerance pledge was made at a three-day commander-level conference with the Border Security Force (BSF), which ended here today. The BGB delegation was led by Additional Director General Tanveer Gani Choudhury, with Inspector Generals from the BSF’s Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram and Assam (Silchar) frontiers also in attendance.
Meanwhile, the BSF also handed over a list of militant groups that, it claims, are using Bangladeshi territory to base their operations against India from. The insurgent groups included those from Meghalaya and Tripura, the BSF IG, SK Nath, said. The BSF also complained about attacks on its personnel and Indian civilians by criminals based out of Bangladesh and sought for action on all fronts.
“We have zero tolerance for insurgent activities, smuggling of firearms and explosive, and trafficking of humans and drugs,” ADG Choudhury told the media. “Efforts will be taken to curb trans-border crimes.”
However, the Bangladesh authorities claimed that there are no permanent rebel camps in Bangladesh, though they admitted that Indian militants have have taken shelter and received support from a few sympathisers.
The two border forces also agreed on a plan of action and promised detailed cooperation to handle cross border crimes, such as drug trafficking and cattle smuggling, besides illegal immigration.
