Indo-Bangla talks end, no progress

The Home Secretary-level talks between India and Bangladesh ended on Friday without any forward movement as both sides stuck to their stated positions. In a joint statement issued after the three-day talks, there was no mention of the contentious issues, including the camps of N-E insurgents in Bangladesh and the presence of ULFA leaders like Paresh Baruah and Anup Chetia in the country. Also, there was no mention of joint patrolling by the BSF and BDR, as proposed by India.

The joint statement said that patrolling will be done by the respective forces BSF and BDR in their own territories and 8216;8216;may coordinate with each other8217;8217;.

As regards the Indian proposal on implementation of the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement through the Joint Boundary Working Group, Bangladesh agreed to examine it and respond soon. Dhaka also agreed to examine the Indian proposal on Extradition Treaty and Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in criminal matters. With illegal immigration from Bangladesh a big security concern for India, the only thing the two sides agreed on was 8216;8216;better and more effective border guarding8221;. Both sides also agreed to grant double entry and exit visas to each other8217;s citizens.