India, Bangladesh resolve to fight terrorism together

New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) India and Bangladesh on Thursday agreed on the need to operationalise the agreements on combating terrorism, organized crime and illicit drug trafficking.

Uinon Home Minister Rajnath Singh assured Bangladesh of India’s fullest support and cooperation in its fight against terrorism, fundamentalism and radicalism.

"The two countries have to be vigilant at all times and channelise efforts to defeat the terrorism and ensure peace, security and prosperity between the two countries," said Singh.

The India-Bangladesh Home Minister level talks expressed satisfaction over the signing of an addendum to the Bilateral Extradition Treaty of 2013 to further streamline the treaty and to make it more effective.

Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and his Indian counterpart Singh also agreed on the necessity of signing a Repatriation Treaty to simplify and expedite the procedure of repatriation of each other’s nationals, said a home ministry statement.

Both sides also agreed to undertake urgent action for the repatriation of released prisoners and victims of human trafficking.

The two sides agreed to further strengthen the ongoing cooperation between the security and investigative agencies of the two countries through a programme of training, capacity building, information exchanges, read the statement.

India and Bangladesh emphasized the need for speedy operationalization of three agreements - MoU between Indian Coast Guard and Bangladesh Coast Guard for the establishment of collaborative relationship to combat transnational illegal activities at sea and develop regional cooperation.

MoU to prevent and counter smuggling and circulation of fake currency notes; MoU on bilateral cooperation for prevention of human trafficking especially trafficking in Women and children; rescue, recovery, repatriation and reintegration of victims of trafficking, the statement added.

Both sides emphasized the importance of effective implementation of the Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) to enhance cooperation between the border guarding forces of the two countries and to enable them to better monitor the identified vulnerable areas with a view to preventing criminal activities, irregular movement, acts of violence and loss of lives along the border areas, it further added.