B8217;desh to beef up border security

The minister8217;s remarks assumes significance in the backdrop of militant groups from the North-East setting up sanctuaries in Bangladesh. India has long suspected that groups like ULFA have sanctuaries across the borders.

Addressing senior police officials here at Metropolitan Police headquarters,Tuku said: 8220;if it can be done,they militants,criminals will not be able to stay here,even after their intrusion8221;.

It was his first interaction with the law enforcement agencies since assuming office under a cabinet reshuffle last week.

The detectives last month arrested two suspected Indian militants having links with India-based Asif Reza Commando Force and Pakistan8217;s Lashkar-e-Taiba LeT.

Bangladesh Rifles and their Border Security Force counterparts last month exchanged lists of wanted 8220;criminals and terrorists8221; who are believed to be hiding or detained in each other8217;s territories during the meeting of their chiefs.

At the meeting here,India handed over a list of 77 of their wanted nationals while Bangladesh gave a list of 1,227 people.

The long Bangladesh-India border became porous after the February 25-26 mutiny in BDR headquarters.

Dhaka has declared that the process was underway to reorganise the 8220;stigmatised8221; BDR under a new name and uniform.