Won't allow our soil to be used for terrorist-activities: Bangladesh
Bangladesh today has reassured India that it will not allow its soil to be used for any terrorist activities against the neighboring country as visiting Home Minister Rajnath Singh held talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart Asaduzzaman Khan on security-related issues. Singh, who is in Dhaka on a three-day visit, has co-chaired with Khan the 6th India-Bangladesh Home Minister-level talks. Here's more.
'We had a successful meeting,' says Singh after meeting
In the meeting, Singh and Khan discussed "all security-related matters of interest including counter-terrorism, capacity building, and increased cooperation between security agencies, border management, countering illegal activities like fake currency, drug and human trafficking, consular issues", the Indian High Commission in Dhaka stated. Khan said security issues largely featured in their meeting, with a particular focus on border management, cross-border crimes, and illegal activities.
Singh, Khan discussed counter-terrorism, militancy, Rohingya issue
Khan said India that has extended all types of support to Bangladesh to counter-terrorism and militancy. "They (India) are now exchanging militancy related information with us," the Bangladeshi Home Minister said. Khan said the Rohingya issue was also discussed and his counterpart conveyed India's commitment to extend its assistance for a safe, speedy, and sustainable return of these people to Myanmar's Rakhine state.
India to send more relief material to deal with Rohingya
India has offered to send more relief material and supplies to help Bangladesh deal with the needs of Rohingya in relief camps. India is simultaneously working on a project to construct pre-fabricated housing in Rakhine to ensure the displaced Rohingya are properly resettled post-deportation. More than six lakh Rohingya Muslims have taken shelter in Bangladesh following violence in Rakhine State in August 2017.
Travel arrangements between India and Bangladesh
"Discussions were held to ease travel arrangements between the two countries as well," Khan said. He added that under a revised travel agreement signed today Bangladeshi freedom fighters and elderly nationals would get five years' multiple Indian visas. He said that discussions were also held to make easier the visa issuance process for students and medical treatment seekers in India
Had extremely fruitful meeting with PM Hasina: Singh
Yesterday, Singh held an "extremely fruitful" meeting with Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina when they discussed issues of mutual concern, including the menace of terrorism. An Indian High Commission statement issued after the meeting said Singh sincerely thanked Hasina for cooperation in addressing India's "security concerns". The statement said Hasina agreed with Singh that joint bilateral efforts to combat militancy and terrorism yielded "special success".
Action against militancy not possible due to some nations: Singh
According to a spokesperson from Bangladesh Prime Minister's office, Rajnath Singh, without naming any country, said that the expected regional collaborative actions against militancy were not possible due to some nations in the region.
