Bangladesh, India pledge to keep common borders calm

DHAKA, July 14 (Xinhua) -- Chiefs of the Bangladesh's and Indian border forces on Tuesday concluded their three-day talks here with a broad-based agreement to maintain calm along the common borders combating trans-border crimes.

"The talks were successful and we've reached an agreement to carry forward our activities through mutual cooperation," Director General of Bangladesh's paramilitary border force Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) Mainul Islam told reporters here on Tuesday.

The talks focused on border management, halting the killing of innocent people and prevention of cross-border crimes like smuggling drugs and illegal weapons and human trafficking.

Bangladesh and India, closest neighbors in South Asia, have roughly 4,200 km of porous border marked by frequent skirmishes between the two border forces over trespassing and the killing of people involved in illicit trade.

Director General of the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) Mahendra Lal Kumawat had proposed in the talks to his Bangladeshi counterpart for joint coordinated patrolling along the border which he said would help drastically cut down crimes and civilian killings.

Both sides also exchanged the list of criminals believed to be hiding in their respective countries and sought their repatriation.

The Indian side gave a list of 77 criminals including some insurgent leaders who are allegedly leading the separatist movement in northeastern states of India.

The Bangladeshi side gave a list of 1,227 criminals including some Islamic militants. Both lists were given to their concerned authorities.