India, Bangladesh have put in place multi-level security mechanism, says diplomat
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: India’s Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pankaj Saran, on Monday informed that the Indian and Bangladeshi governments have put in place a multi-level security coordination to overlook issues related to security matter of the two nations including anti-insurgency operations.
“Security is being discussed at the level of the Home Minister, Home Secretary, police forces and also between the border forces of both the nations,” Saran said while speaking to reporters after a courtesy call on Governor RS Mooshahary here on Monday.
Saran said that the Bangladesh Government is providing necessary cooperation towards anti-insurgency operations to flush out militant groups from the North Eastern Region who are taking shelter in Bangladesh. Asked whether the Bangladesh Government has not done enough to wipe out militants group taking shelter in their country, he said, “I am not the right person to answer this question.”
“I am sure that there is a mechanism in place to see that the issues concerning security of both the nations are being addressed in the right earnest,” the diplomat said, while stating that the Bangladesh Government is taking necessary action against militant groups sheltered in Bangladesh.
While briefing about his interaction with Mooshshary, he said that the Governor dwelt on the historical link between Meghalaya and Bangladesh.
“He also talked about possible tie-up between Meghalaya and Bangladesh in the fields of tourism, education, agriculture and allied sectors,” Saran added.
‘More border haats in the offing’
The Union Government has taken a call to open more border haats in the North Eastern states including Meghalaya following demands by various states of the region for opening of more border haats.
The Centre would shortly approve the opening of more haats in the region, Saran said.
“More border haats would be operationalised in Meghalaya with the Centre taking an active consideration on the demand of the state,” he said.
“There has been an overwhelming response from people residing on both sides of the international border to the few border haats which had been opened on a pilot basis,” he said.
“In Meghalaya, we have formally launched a border haat at Kalaichar in Garo Hills,” the diplomat said, while adding that the second border haat at Balat has already been made operational pending formal inauguration.
“The inauguration of the border haat at Balat would be held very soon,” he said, while adding that the border haats have been reopened in order to revive the trading activities which have been there since time immemorial.
The Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, who is on a one-day visit to Meghalaya, would be leaving for Tripura on Tuesday before travelling to other states of the region.