AMN/ WEB DESK
The 52nd BGB-BSF Director General level Border conference started in Bangladesh on Sunday with the arrival of the Indian team led by DG, BSF Pankaj Singh in Dhaka in the morning.
On the inaugural day, the two sides discussed a wide range of issues related to border management, smuggling of arms and ammunition, drugs, trafficking of women and children and various developmental activities within the 150 yards of the international border. Discussion on the joint initiatives to implement the Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) as well as exchange of information on various armed groups and extremist and terrorist organisaitons also took place during the conference. Both the countries discussed ways to enhance mutual trust between the BGB and BSF and further strengthen the existing bilateral relations.
During the course of the conference, the Indian delegation will also visit Padma Bridge and Cox’s Bazar as part of strengthening bilateral relations and increasing goodwill between the two countries, said a press release issued by the BGB. The conference will conclude on 21 July with the signing of the Joint Record of Discussions (JRD).
The 20 member Bangladesh delegation is being led by the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) Director General Major General Shakil Ahmed. Senior officials of the BGB, Bangladesh Home Ministry, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Directorate of Narcotics, Joint Rivers Commission took part in the proceedings on the opening day of the conference on Sunday. From the Indian side, apart from DG, Border Security Force (BSF) Pankaj Kumar Singh, other senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs and External Affairs took part in the conference.