As talks between the Home Secretaries of India and Bangladesh drew to a close in New Delhi on Sunday, a sense of bonhomie and good cheer was palpable, and expectedly so. Relations between the two countries have improved remarkably in the past three years since the Awami League Government, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, came to power in Bangladesh in January 2009, and bilateral talks held this past weekend should serve as an impetus for further strengthening of ties. Bangladesh’s Home Secretary Monzur Hossain hit the right notes when he reiterated his Government ‘zero tolerance’ policy for any anti-India activity. In the recent past, Dhaka has done much to contain such activities on Bangladeshi soil — it has come down heavily on Islamists known for anti-India propaganda as well as cracked down on terrorist networks that either have ties with Pakistan or seek to set up sleeper cells in India. It has also handed over several separatists who had led insurgencies in the North-East. The most prominent among them are ULFA leader Arabinda Rajkhowa, his deputy Raju Baruah and other top ULFA leaders such as Sasha Choudhury, and Chitraban Hazarika. Against this backdrop, Mr Hossain’s emphasis on Dhaka’s continued commitment to eliminating anti-India elements hiding in Bangladesh was naturally well received. Equally welcome is his assurance that other fugitives, such as ULFA general-secretary Anup Chetia, will be handed over to India soon. Chetia has been lodged in jail since he was arrested in 1997 for entering Bangladesh without valid documents. Since then his asylum requests have complicated his extradition which remains mired in a convoluted legal process.
Delhi, Dhaka strengthen ties further
To do away with such obstacles, the Home Secretaries have announced that they will operationalise the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty. Signed during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Dhaka in September, this agreement aims to facilitate the handing over of wanted people in each other’s territories. An Extradition Treaty is also in the pipeline and will be a huge step forward in ensuring greater security cooperation between the two countries. During the three-day talks, both countries also agreed to implement other key agreements such as the Agreement on Combating Organised Crime and Illegal Drug Trafficking that were signed during Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India in January last year. Of particular importance in this case is the finalisation of the coordinated Border Management Plan that was formulated this July. India and Bangladesh share a 4,095-km-long porous border that remains vulnerable to illegal immigration and cross-border human trafficking. Hence, effective border management is an imperative for both New Delhi and Dhaka. Hopefully, that will happen soon.
Delhi, Dhaka strengthen ties further
To do away with such obstacles, the Home Secretaries have announced that they will operationalise the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty. Signed during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Dhaka in September, this agreement aims to facilitate the handing over of wanted people in each other’s territories. An Extradition Treaty is also in the pipeline and will be a huge step forward in ensuring greater security cooperation between the two countries. During the three-day talks, both countries also agreed to implement other key agreements such as the Agreement on Combating Organised Crime and Illegal Drug Trafficking that were signed during Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India in January last year. Of particular importance in this case is the finalisation of the coordinated Border Management Plan that was formulated this July. India and Bangladesh share a 4,095-km-long porous border that remains vulnerable to illegal immigration and cross-border human trafficking. Hence, effective border management is an imperative for both New Delhi and Dhaka. Hopefully, that will happen soon.
