Bangladesh today shot down India’s proposal to have joint patrol along the border even as the two countries agreed to work together to contain smuggling of drugs, arms and human trafficking. Emerging from a meeting with visiting Foreign Secretary Shashank, Bangladesh Home Minister Altaf Hossain Chowdhury told reporters that since India has made a specific allegation about the existence of terrorist camps in his country’s territory, there was no need for joint patrol.India had proposed coordinated patrolling at the DG-level meeting of BSF and BDR in Dhaka in March last year. Bangladesh had at that time agreed in principle but developed cold feet since the previous such exercise held in New Delhi in November last year. Shashank, on his third day of the tour of Bangladesh, today called on Chowdhury at his office where wide-ranging discussions were held on joint measures to strengthen cooperation in combating cross-border crime, smuggling and trafficking, official sources said.Some measures being studied by the two countries, including consular access for India and Bangladesh to their nationals held in jail in each other’s country and signing of extradition treaty, came up for discussion, sources said.Both sides agreed to enhance collaboration between police and border forces of the two countries and increase vigil for checking drug and arms smuggling and trafficking of women and children. The sources said India evinced keen interests of police reform in Bangladesh and offered assistance in this regard.Minister of State for Home Lutfurzamman Babar, Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary were present at the meeting Shashank had with Chowdhury. Indian High Commissioner Veena Sikri was also present. Shashank attended a lunch hosted in his honour by Bangladesh Federation of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) today. He called on leader of the Opposition and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina who underlined the need for strengthening diplomatic and economic relations between India and Bangladesh.
