SHILLONG: District Magistrate from Jamalpur, Bangladesh, Ahmed Kabir said the country had almost successfully rooted out terrorism from its soil and would continue to work hand in hand with India on this issue.
He was speaking at the District Magistrates/Deputy Commissioners meeting for Cluster-9, between bordering districts of India (Meghalaya) and Bangladesh in an effort to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.
The DC-DM Conference between Bangladesh and India has a participation from seven districts Bangladesh which include Jamalpur, Sherpur, Netrakona, Mymensingh, Syilhet, Sunamganj and Kurigram District on Tuesday. From Meghalaya, the participating districts are East Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills, East Jaintia Hills, West Garo Hills, South West Garo Hills, South Garo Hills and South West Khasi Hills.
Ahmed said Bangladesh manifested its strong opposition to extremism and terrorism.
He said the meeting would come up for discussions on issues such as infiltration across the international border, smuggling, repairing of damaged border pillars, facilitate export of coal.
He added that the meeting would come up with possible ways and means to resolve issues of inter country border areas.
On the other hand, he said, “Bangladesh has made significant progress in recent years in socio-economic areas.”
Ahmed expressed optimism that the officials concerned would discuss issues in a positive manner.
Two border haats to be made functional
Meghalaya additional chief secretary, Rebecca Suchiang informed that two border haats, Bholaganj and Ryngku situated in East Khasi Hills will be made functional in by September and the other border haat in South West Khasi Hills, Nolikata will be made functional by December.
She recalled that during the last Cluster-9 meeting in 2015, decisions were taken to set up border haats in Huroi (East Jaintia Hills) and Dalu (West Garo Hills).
She said there were suggestions that Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) should be set up in Shella and Borsora as these are looked at as strategic places.
She maintained that long standing issues could not be resolved overnight and there must be a collective push and nudge on agencies to move forward.
Suchiang also spoke about coming up with mechanism to expedite extradition of persons who are serving jail terms in both countries and said that BSF and BGB should come up with Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to expedite such cases so that it is are not delayed.
“I hope that this meeting would come out with something concrete on the extradition of people who are serving jail term in the respective countries,” she said.
Later, speaking to reporters, Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills, Matsiewdor War said issues of border crimes and militant activities, information sharing of technical knowledge, Land Custom Station, flood control.
Asked on river pollution, Ahmed said since there were common rivers, necessary steps would be taken to ensure that river pollution would not take place.
He said in Bangladesh, the water flowing from India shows existence of metallic components and some sort of pollution such as coal.
Asked, Ahmed said that such meetings of the bureaucrats of both the countries would be proposed to be held yearly. The last meeting held was in 2015.