India security forces agreed not to killed innocent Bangladeshis The longest ever sector commander-level
flag meeting between Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and Border Security Force (BSF) of India decided today.
to maintain peace and harmony along borders, friendly relations between the two neighbouring border guards through increasing further cooperation to each other at all levels., reports BSS.
BSF side also committed not to kill any
innocent Bangladeshi national or open unprovoked firing in future at the meeting that was held in Bangla Hilli Bungalow near at Hilli Land Port under Hakimpur upazila in Dinajpur in a very cordial, friendly and congenial atmosphere from 10.30 am to 9.00 pm, official sources said.
The 11-member BDR delegation was led by Sector Commander of Dinajpur Colonel Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury at the meeting.
Commanding Officers of Joypurhat 29 Rifle
Battalion Lt Colonel Shameem Ahmed, Fulbari 15 Battalion Lt Colonel Nurul Alam, Dinajpur 14 Battalion Lt Colonel Abdul Hamid, Thakurgaon 20 Rifle Battalion Lt Colonel Rafiqul Islam and six other staff officers assisted him.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and Malda Sector Commander of BSF P V Sarowat led the 13-member BSF. DIG and Kishanganj Sector Commander of BSF R K Pranoth also attended the meeting.
Commandants of 115 BSF Battalion P Brojesh Kumar, 200 Battalion G S Barnala, 57 Battalion R P S Malik, 116 Battalion Babu Chandran Nayer, 89 Battalion P S Chandal, 47 Battalion Sanjoy Shiva, 32 Battalion A S Rathore, 72 BSF battalion Anil Kumar Thakur and three staff officers assisted the BSF delegation chief.
BDR raised the issues of frequent and unprovoked killings, injuring and abduction of innocent Bangladeshis by BSF troops, opening of fire on BDR and Bangladeshis by BSF creating tense situation, obstruction by BSF to construction works of the flood- control revetments at different places under Dinajpur Sector of BDR to further improving the existing bilateral relations between the two neighbouring border guards, the sources said.
Cross-border smuggling and crimes, trafficking of phensidyl and narcotics from India, smuggling out of diesel and fertilizers to India, illegal intrusion into Bangladesh by BSF troops and Indians, violation of human rights by BSF, push-in of Bangla- speaking Indian Muslims, non-compliance of the Indo-Bangladesh Joint Border Guide Lines of 1975 by BSF and some other issues also came up for discussion at the meeting.
BSF raised the issues of construction of houses and other establishments by Bangladeshis along the borders, breaching and cutting of the barbed-wire fences by Bangladeshi criminals, firing by BDR, cross-border smuggling by Bangladeshi nationals and some other issues, the sources said.
The meeting was held in a very congenial and friendly atmosphere and most of the outstanding issues were resolved and it was agreed that the rest would be resolved in future through mutual discussion and cooperation.
Both sides also agreed to refer some issues to their respective higher authorities for further discussion as those problems should be resolved as per international border rules and laws. BSF also agreed to stop killing innocent Bangladeshi citizens.
The two sides also agreed to hold frequent charity volleyball and other matches on the borders between BDR and BSF and allow the frontier people of both sides to enjoy those matches.
BDR and BSF officials agreed to maintain full-time contacts on any occasion to ensure peace along borders and to avoid any untoward incidents that may trigger tension along borders in future, the sources said.
In response to BDR's strong protests against unprovoked killings of Bangladeshis on the border by BSF troops, BSF side informed BDR that a full curfew prevails along borders in the Indian side from sunset to sunrise daily and BSF has been ordered by their higher authorities to shoot-at-sight if anybody is found near the borders. However, BSF agreed not to kill any inocent Bangladeshis in future.
BDR categorically told BSF that killing of innocent Bangladeshis will not be tolerated in future and asked BSF to abide by the UN Charters of not killing any innocent citizen and uphold the spirit of human rights.
The meeting ended with the signing of agreed minutes between the two border guards after 9 pm, the sources said.
Talking to BSS after the meeting, BDR Sector Commander Colonel Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury told that the meeting was very successful and held in a very cordial and friendly atmosphere to discuss and resolve all outstanding border issues by both sides.