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Bangladesh promises action against Indian insurgents: BSF DG

March 11, 2010 16:00 IST

Bangladesh has promised action against the Indian insurgents who may be operating from their soil, the list of whom was handed over to it by India, Border Security Force Director General Raman Srivastava said on Thursday.

"From our side, we have handed over list of certain Indian insurgents who are likely to be in Bangladesh. We have requested (them) and I am confident that we will get the co-operation of the Bangladesh Rifles which has been promised by the BDR Director General," Srivastava said after signing a joint record of discussion between the border guarding forces of the two countries.

Srivastava said the BDR is trying to ascertain the presence of these insurgents on their side of the border which is a difficult task in absence of any specific input."DG BDR is trying to see whether these people are there. They may or may not be there, we do not know unless there is a specific input that so and so is there in this building, in this locality, in this city. Even then he may be there, he may not be there. We have made our concerns clear. We have got a very positive response from them," he said.

BDR chief Major General Mainul Islam, who is leading a 19-member delegation, also assured that territory of Bangladesh will not be used for terrorist activities against any country. Islam said Bangladesh does not have time or resources to harbour anybody's terrorists. "Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has clearly said that land of Bangladesh will not be used by any terrorist whether he is working abroad or within Bangladesh," he said.

"We are not arresting and branding people as Taliban, as is happening in other places of the world, who are later not found to be involved. "Whatever arrests we are making, we are making arrests to the point, on the evidences, so that they get justice," the BDR Chief said. He, however, said there are certain areas where BDR presence was low which has been taken care of in the reforms process underway in Bangladesh.

When asked about the insurgents of North-Eastern India infiltrating from Bangladesh, he said "We have addressed the issue. There is no place for any insurgent from any country either operating in any other country or in India or Bangladesh."

On action against Bilal, the alleged terrorist arrested by Bangladeshi authorities who is reported to be involved in the Kandahar hijack, the BDR chief said action would be initiated as per legal provisions.